"Women traveling more than 45 miles (7.2 miles) should not be offered a ride unless accompanied by a close family member," Sadeq Akif Muhajir, a spokesman for Afghanistan's re-established Ministry of Morality, said in a statement on Sunday.

He clarified in the statement that it must be a male relative.

The ministry also urges car owners to deny women who do not wear hijab a ride, something most women in the country already wear.

The call comes shortly after the ministry asked the country's TV channels to stop showing soap operas and other programs featuring female actors.

Female TV journalists have also been urged to wear the hijab when presenting their programs.

Wants to manifest power

Anna Ek, Sweden's head of the Swedish Afghanistan Committee, sees Sunday's statement as a political signal where the Taliban want to manifest their power.

- This is another example of statements that have come from the Taliban since last autumn.

I think you should interpret it as a political signal from the Taliban, that you want to signal that you have power, says Anna Ek.

The Taliban's takeover on August 15 immediately raised concerns that rights that Afghan women had been fighting for for decades would be lost.

The Taliban has promised that women's rights will not be curtailed in the same way as before, but the promises have been seen as dubious by human rights organizations.

Several restrictions for women and girls have also already been introduced during the autumn - despite the promises.

Among other things, women have been stopped from playing sports.

"Islam does not allow it," a Taliban spokesman said in September.

Can be punished by the family

The Taliban's new restrictions have led to protests in Afghanistan this autumn.

What punishment women who defy the new rules risk is still unclear, according to Anna EK.

- We know very little about it.

These are very new restrictions, but we can count on reprisals from one's own family because girls and women are largely considered to carry the family's honor, she says.

Hear Anna Ek about the situation for women in Afghanistan in the clip above