Several women with their faces uncovered have demonstrated this Tuesday in Kabul as a protest against the Taliban decree that forces them to cover their faces in public places. The protesters have denounced the position of the Afghan regime, which aims to impose the use of the burqa. “The burka is not our hijab”, the protesters have chanted showing their faces.
According to the news agency Jaama, the authorities have dispersed the call and have even arrested journalists. Organizations such as the United Nations (UN) have accused the Taliban of restricting the rights of citizens through an order from the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. This decree urges women to stay home as much as possible. Those who fail to comply with the measure risk receiving reprimands from the “guardian”, usually the husband or a direct male relative.
Removing women from the public sphere
The burka is shown as one of the symbols of repression during the previous Taliban regime, which had ended in 2001. The rebels promised not to go back to the previous situation after their return to power in August 2021. Currently, the The promise of the Taliban has been broken by trying to alienate women in the public, educational and labor spheres.
The United States described this Tuesday as “offensive to human rights” the measures imposed. The UN Security Council will discuss these restrictions at its meeting next Thursday.
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