In Afghanistan, the supreme leader of the Taliban issued this Saturday the order to Afghan women to wear the burqa in public. This wish comes on top of the many restrictions that the country’s women have had to face since the return to power of the fundamentalists in August.
“They must wear a tchadri (synonymous with burqa), because it is traditional and respectful”, estimated Hibatullah Akhundzada through a decree he signed, and made public by the Taliban government.
The supreme leader added that “women who are neither too young nor too old, should veil their face when facing a man who is not a member of their family”, in order to avoid any “provocation”. .
It is also specified in this decree presented to the press in Kabul, that if women do not have important tasks to perform outside their homes, it is better “for them to stay at home”.
As a reminder, the Taliban who took power from 1996 to 2001 had already imposed the wearing of the burqa on women at that time.
Many prohibitions
Back in power since last August, the Taliban had initially promised that their regime would grant more flexibility, but their promise was ultimately not respected.
The rights, freedoms and emancipation that Afghan women have enjoyed over the past twenty years have finally been swept aside by the Taliban regime, under the pretext of Sharia, Islamic law.
Afghan women are now mostly excluded from public employment, from traveling alone, or even from having a sporting activity.
In addition, in March, the Taliban banned access to education for young girls in high schools and colleges. A last minute decision, which had surprised and scandalized the international community.