On Friday, the supreme leader of the Taliban, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, issued a decree regarding women's rights in Afghanistan.

The decree, released by the spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, Zabiullah Mujahid, stipulated that the relevant institutions must take steps in its implementation.

The decree is comprised of six elements:

“Adult women’s consent is necessary during Nikah/marriage. (Though, both should be equal with no risk of sedition). No one can force women to marry by coercion or pressure."

"woman is not a property, but a noble and free human being; no one can give her to anyone in exchange for a peace deal and or end animosity.

"the death of the husband, ‘Sharaie Adat’ (four months and ten nights or pregnancy) passes, no one can marry a widow by force, including her relatives. A widow has the right to marry and or to determine/ choose her future. (Though, the principle of equality and preventing sedition should be considered).

“It is the Sharia right a widow to obtain ‘Mahar’ from her new husband. [Mahar is an amount of money specified by the wife and husband during the Nikah to be paid by the husband to the wife.]

“A widow has heritage rights, and fixed share in the property of her husband, children, father and relatives, and no one can deprive a widow of her right."

“Those with multi-marriage (more than one wife) are obliged to give rights to all women following Sharia law and maintain justice between them.”

The letter instructed the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Information and Culture, the Supreme Court, and provincial governors and district governors to implement the dictates of the decree and communicate them to the public.