Women have been banned from appearing in Afghan TV dramas and female news readers told to wear 'Islamic hijabs' under repressive new Taliban laws.
All TV dramas in which women have appeared are now banned from the screen, edicts handed down by Afghanistan's Ministry of Vice and Virtue this week said.
Female news readers - who are already compelled to wear headscarves - must now wear 'Islamic hijabs' the rules added, without specifying exactly what that means.
It is just the latest repression of women's rights by the Taliban since the Islamists seized control of the country in August, and further undermines their claims to have reformed and become more moderate.
All TV dramas featuring women have been banned in Afghanistan while female news readers have been told to wear 'Islamic hijabs', despite already wearing headscarves (pictured)
The laws were contained in a new rulebook issued by the Ministry of Vice and Virtue - which under the old Taliban regime was charged with enforcing its strict interpretation of Sharia - to ensure all media reinforces 'Islamic or Afghan values'.
'Those dramas...or programmes in which women have acted, should not be aired,' the rules said.
The move drew criticism from Human Rights Watch (HRW), which said media freedom was deteriorating in the country.
'The disappearance of any space for dissent and worsening restrictions for women in the media and arts is devastating,' said Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director at HRW, in a statement.
Other rules handed down by the Ministry include a ban on foreign films which promote 'foreign cultural values'.
Any programme deemed to violate the principles of Sharia, or deemed insulting to religion or Afghans, is also outlawed.
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