So much for more freedom... hardliners make burkas obligatory in public again
THE Taliban has ordered all Afghan women to wear the headto-toe burka in public.
The move evokes similar restrictions imposed during the religious group’s previous hardline rule between 1996 and 2001.
The decree states that if a woman does not cover her face, her father or closest male relative could be visited by officials, imprisoned or even fired from government jobs.
It says that the ideal face covering is the blue burka, which shows only the eyes.
Women should also stay at home if there is no important work to do outside, it adds. Khalid Hanafi, acting minister for the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, which replaced the previous women’s ministry, said, ‘We want our sisters to live with dignity and safety’.
‘Islamic principles and Islamic ideology are more important to us than anything else.’
The ministry’s Shir Mohammad added: ‘For all dignified Afghan women, wearing hajib is necessary and the best hajib is chadori [the head-to-toe burka] which is part of our tradition and is respectful. Those women who are not too old or young must cover their face, except the eyes.’
Women’s rights in Afghanistan have been increasingly rolled back since the Taliban retook control last August, despite initially promising to respect such freedoms.
Women are no longer allowed to travel more than 75km without a male relative, are forbidden from appearing in movies and TV shows, and are not permitted to work with men or in government.
In March, the Taliban also backtracked on its promise to reopen schools to girls aged 11 and above.
The group was ousted in 2001 by a US-led coalition for harbouring Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, but returned to power after America’s chaotic departure from Afghanistan last year.
In the past few months, its leadership has fought internally as it struggles to transition from a war footing to government.
This unrest has pitted hardliners against more pragmatic group members – especially over the issue of women and education.
Although universities opened earlier this year across much of the country, lessons in many areas have been erratic.
Many Afghans have also been outraged at the decision by some younger Taliban to educate their daughters in Pakistan to get around the school closures in the country.
Experts say the Taliban fears that enrolling girls over 11 years in schools could alienate its rural base.