AFGHANISTAN. Kabul: On Saturday, the hardline leadership in Afghanistan issued an order requiring women to wear a head-to-cover, commonly called ‘chadori,’ in one of the severe restrictions on women since the Taliban overthrew the government last year.
The mandate, which will return the South Asian country to more than two decades ago, has raised serious concerns among the international community, which is already concerned about women’s safety under the hardliners’ control.
Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, expressed concern over the situation and encouraged the organization to “honour their promises to Afghan women and girls and their obligations under international human rights law.”
“I’m alarmed by today’s announcement by the Taliban that women must cover their faces in public and leave home only in cases of necessity. I once again urge the Taliban to keep their promises to Afghan women & girls and their obligations under international human rights law,” his tweet reads.
Women should fully cover themselves in public, ideally with the customary burqa, according to an order issued by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.
“Those women who are not too old or young must cover their faces, except their eyes, to prevent provocation when meeting men who are not mahram (mature close male relations),” read the ordinance.
The women were also told not to go outside unless it was for a crucial job. According to the new order, if women do not follow the new clothing code, their male guardians will face the consequences.
Last year, the Taliban gained control of Afghanistan in a military onslaught that saw Western soldiers withdraw.
Following the coup, the party vowed a more moderate reign than their previous tenure in power, marred by human rights violations, particularly among women, from 1996 to 2001.
Though many women in rural regions already wear burqas or niqabs, in the 20 years between the Taliban’s two periods in power, women in major cities, including Kabul, reclaimed their independence. They were permitted to attend school, and women could work in all fields.
Despite the assurances, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan has restored regressive practices, confirming the international community’s misgivings.
The organisation ordered the closure of secondary schools for girls in March, just hours after they reopened for the first time since seizing power. According to reports, officials claim that females’ education must follow “Islamic standards.”
Women are also ordered to visit parks in the capital on separate days from men.
According to the United Nations, women’s rights in Afghanistan will be a litmus test for the Taliban regime. The UN has stated that the group’s cooperation with international organizations will be contingent on the safety of Afghan women’s rights.
Also Read: Supreme Court Leak Sparks a Nationwide Abortion Debate in the United States
