The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (PVPV), responsible for enforcing strict Islamic morality laws in Afghanistan, has announced it will no longer cooperate with the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The decision follows UNAMA’s expression of concern over a new law that imposes stringent restrictions on women, including requiring them to cover their faces and voices in public. The PVPV condemned UNAMA’s criticism as insulting to Islamic values and called for international organizations to respect Muslim religious beliefs. The new law, which encompasses 35 articles and was published in the official gazette on July 31, regulates all aspects of Afghan life, from social to private, reflecting a stringent interpretation of Sharia law. It has drawn criticism from human rights organizations and Afghans who fear the law further restricts women’s rights and freedoms.