KABUL, Afghanistan: The Taliban has announced that Afghan females will only be allowed to undertake road journeys when they are escorted by male relatives.

The order, issued on December 26, comes as yet another step in reducing the rights of women since the Taliban took over the country in August.

To date, most secondary-level education remains closed to females, while working is no longer allowed for a major section of women.

Global non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch said the directive on travel for Afghan women was yet another move aimed at stifling Afghan women.

“(The directive) shuts off opportunities for (females) to be able to move about freely or to be able to flee if they are facing violence in the home,” Heather Barr, the women’s rights division’s associate director at Human Rights Watch, told Agence France-Presse.

According to the recent order by the Taliban’s Ministry of Propogation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, females seeking to travel over forty-five miles must be accompanied by male family members.

Also, orders have been issued instructing vehicle owners to not offer rides to females who are not wearing Muslim garments veiling their heads or faces.

The rule also prohibits music from being played in vehicles.