KABUL (SW) – Widespread condemnation and concerns have poured in in the wake of the new ruling by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan regarding hijab for women and girls.
This new decree by the Islamic Emirate has provoked widespread domestic and international reactions.
Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, has urged the Taliban to keep 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”, he tweeted.
“Step by step Taliban is obliterating Afghan women’s #humanrights with the latest edict on mandatory face coverings compounding restrictions on education, movement, employment and public life. There must be consequences for human rights violations – time for the int comm to act”, tweeted Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan
Rina Amiri, US Special Envoy has said criticized the move saying that the Islamic Emirate continue to pursue policies of repression of women and girls instead of addressing the economic crisis and the need for inclusive government. “I join calls by Afghans & the int community to end these oppressive measures, reopen girls’ schools, let women work & resume their lives”, she tweeted.
The Ministry of Enjoining the Good and Forbidding the Evil of the Islamic Emirate on Saturday issued a new decree on women’s hijab, saying that from now on, all women must abide by it.
The decree states that any clothing that covers the body is considered as a hijab so that it is not thin and attached to the body. “Chadar and black hijab” are examples of hijab mentioned in this decree.
The Ministry has added that if a woman does not observe the hijab, in the first step, her house will be identified and her guardian will be advised and punished.
In the second step, the woman would be summoned to the relevant department and for the third time, she would be imprisoned for three days. In the fourth violation, the guardian would be handed over to the courts and sentenced to an appropriate punishment.
The decree also states that those women who work in government institutions and do not observe the hijab will be fired.
The Ministry has also appointed a delegation to investigate the situation with the hijab. It has also told the media to spread the word about the importance and benefits of hijab and the harms of not wearing hijab.
It should be noted that after the establishment of the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan, many restrictions have been imposed on women. Women are not allowed to work in government offices, and girls’ schools above the sixth grade are closed.
ENDS
