Women ordered to cover up

The Taliban rulers have ordered all Afghan women to wear head-to-toe clothing in public – a sharp, hardline pivot that confirmed the worst fears of rights activists and was bound to further complicate Taliban dealings with an already distrustful international community.

The decree says women should leave the home only when necessary, and that male relatives would face punishment – starting with a summons and escalating up to hearings and jail time — for women’s dress code violations.

It was the latest in a series of repressive edicts issued by the Taliban, not all of which have been implemented.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said it was deeply concerned with what appeared to be a formal directive that would be implemented and enforced, adding that it would seek clarifications from the Taliban about the decision.

The decree, which calls for women to only show their eyes and recommends they wear the head-to-toe burqa, evoked similar restrictions on women during the Taliban’s previous rule between 1996 and 2001. ‘‘We want our sisters to live with dignity and safety,’’ said Khalid Hanafi, acting minister for the vice and virtue ministry.

The Taliban previously decided against reopening schools to girls above grade 6, reneging on an earlier promise and opting to appease their hardline base.