Afghanistan's Taliban rulers have banned women from speaking in public under new laws. Under the new laws, women will now have to cover their faces. Failure to follow the law will result in punishments such as warning or arrest.

The laws came into force on Wednesday after being approved by supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, a government spokesman said on Thursday. It states that it is mandatory for women to cover their bodies at all times in public places. Clothes should not be thin, short or too short.

There is also a ban on publishing photographs of living persons

There are also restrictions on the publication of photographs of living persons. There are also restrictions on the playing of music, women travelling alone, and the meeting of men and women who are not related to each other.