The Taliban has imposed new extreme restrictions on women in Afghanistan, banning them from “hearing other women’s voices” while praying. Khalid Hanafi, the acting minister of the Vice and Virtue Ministry, announced this ban in a now-deleted social media message.

Women are prohibited from praying loudly enough for others to hear, reciting Quranic verses, or chanting religious phrases like “Allahu Akbar.”

This follows a previous ban on public speaking, meaning women’s voices must not be heard outside their homes.

The Taliban justifies these measures as necessary to prevent temptation, and violations can lead to arrest, Fox News has reported.

A report by Richard Bennett, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, highlighted instances of sexual violence against women detained by the Taliban and suggested that these oppressive actions may constitute crimes against humanity.

Bennett will present his findings to the U.N. General Assembly on November 1.

Written by B.C. Begley