Afghanistan, Taliban diktat sparks debate about women’s attire

Many Afghan women in the capital Kabul have protested the poster campaign launched by the Taliban, encouraging women to wear a burqa or headscarf.

The Afghan Ministry for the promotion of virtues and prevention of deputy poster plaster crosses the cafe and Kabul shop earlier this month to encourage the use of burqas, the entire body veil that also covers the face. It did not issue official direction.

According to Islamic law, a Muslim woman must observe the headscarf, “Poster wrote, along with pictures of blue Burqa-Clad women and the others with full black. The word” headscarf “accompanies each image as if to clarify what the shape is like.

Many Muslim women around the world choose to wear headscarves – in varieties

Afghan women traditionally wore Burqa – mostly sold in blue, white and gray nuances – but black robes are less common throughout the country.

The Taliban, who returned to power in August, has clarified that the dress code is not mandatory, but insisting women must cover their bodies as required by their Islamic faith. During their last task in power between 1996 and 2001, the use of Burqa was strictly enforced.

At present, the streets in the center of Kota Kabul are filled with women wearing various hijab styles. While some dresses in Burqas covered their faces, others wear a hijab and a variety of traditional and western mixes.

Many Afghan women did not see what a commotion – because the hijab had become part of many Afghan women’s daily clothes – while others condemned him as a violation of their freedom.

As a Afghan woman, we know the rights and obligations of our religion, “said Jamila Afghani, an activist of women’s rights and former Deputy Minister of Manpower and Social.

“It must be a choice for women to wear what he wants,” said Afghani, who also heads the Women’s International League for peace and freedom (WILPF) in Afghanistan.

To Afghani, this campaign also shows Taliban obsessions with insignificant problems in the midst of an increasingly deep economic crisis that has made many families unable to feed their children.

“They must be busy doing things more important than women’s clothing,” Afghan said. “Most women are wearing traditional chadors [shawls or headscarves], so why is this even raised.”

Service to promote the virtues and prevention of representatives of representatives of Deputy Muhammad Akif Muhajir told Al Jazeera that because the hijab or burqa is a “Quran command”, Muslim women must wear it.

If Shariah commands them [women] to do something they have to do on it, “he said, adding that the headscarf or burqa could be” whatever a woman used to cover her body … headscarves or in some parts of the woman use big scarves to cover themselves “.

Although there is no policy to impose the use of burqas, or punishment for women who do not comply with advisers, there are sporadic reports about the Taliban army who try to uphold it.

“These things tend to be troubled by the absence of clear guidelines and training for fighters,” Obaidullah Baheer, a lecturer on transitional justice at American University in Afghanistan.

When they [Taliban Fighters] were given an impression [by their leaders] to be responsible for the moral police of the community, they would definitely abuse their authority, “he added.

Some Afghan women denied Taliban claims covered – especially faces – absolutely necessary for women.

“The way I dress doesn’t conflict with my religion,” said women’s rights activists based in Kabul Arifa Fatimi.

Sonia Ahmadyar, a 36-year-old three-year-old mother said: “I really oppose to enforce certain dressing codes in women. We should not be forced to wear something we don’t want.”

According to Afghani, the recommendation of the Taliban Burqa is not what Islam is asking for women. “If they [Taliban] talking about Sharia, Islam does not determine clothing for women.