Taliban order Afghan women to wear all-covering Burqa

AFGHANISTAN: The Taliban on Saturday imposed one of the harshest restrictions on Afghanistan’s women since seizing power, ordering them to wear the all-covering Burqa in public.

On Saturday, Afghanistan’s Supreme Leader and Taliban Chief Hibatullah Akhundzada announced a strict dress code for women when they are in public.

“They should wear a chadori (head-to-toe Burqa) as it is traditional and respectful,” said a decree in his name released by Taliban authorities at a ceremony in Kabul.

“Those women who are not too old or young must cover their face, except the eyes, as per sharia directives, in order to avoid provocation when meeting men who are not mahram (adult close male relatives),” it said. Akhundzada’s decree also said that if women had no important work outside it was “better they stay at home”. During their first regime, the Taliban had made the burqa compulsory for women.

Since their return to power, their feared Ministry for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has issued several “guidelines” on what women should wear but Saturday’s edict was the first such national order.

That ban was also issued by Akhundzada, according to several Taliban officials. Women have also been ordered to visit parks in the capital on separate days from men.

– INDIA TODAY