In a recent dazzle, scores of women stormed the streets in the Afghan capital to protest against the Taliban’s new edict that females must fully cover their faces and bodies when in public.
It could be recall that Afghanistan’s supreme leader and Taliban chief Hibatullah Akhundzada had earlier issued a mandate, ordering women to cover up fully, ideally with the traditional all-covering burqa.
The development was the latest in a series of creeping restrictions in Afghanistan, where the Islamists have rolled back the marginal gains made by women after a US-led invasion toppled the first Taliban regime in 2001.
The protestors, many with uncovered faces, in central Kabul, chanted “Justice, justice!”
Also, the battle-ready women chanted “Burqa is not our hijab!” — indicating their objection to trading the less restrictive hijab headscarf for the totally concealing burqa.
It was gathered that after a short procession, the march was thwarted by Taliban fighters, who also obstructed journalists from reporting on the event.
Akhundzada’s decree, which also orders women to “stay at home” if they have no important work outside, has triggered international condemnation.
A protester at the rally, Saira Sama Alimyar said “We want to live as human beings, not as some animal held captive in a corner of a house”.
Local reports also have it that Akhundzada mandated authorities to fire female government employees who do not follow the new dress code, and to suspend male workers if their wives and daughters fail to comply.
It’s imperative to note that in the 20 years between the Taliban’s two stints in power, women made some gains in education, the workplace, and public life but deeply conservative and patriarchal attitudes still prevailed.
Official reports have it that in the countryside, many women continued to wear the burqa in those two decades.
However, several religious scholars and activists have continued to frown at the attire, opining that it has no basis in Islam and is rather a Taliban dress code designed to repress women.
It could be recalled that shortly after seizing power last year, the Taliban had promised a softer version of the harsh Islamist rule that characterised their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001, but they have eaten their words as many restrictions have already been imposed.
It was reported that some Afghan women initially pushed back against the curbs, holding small protests where they demanded the right to education and work, but the Taliban clampdown on their leaders and have taken measures to shut everyone up.
