In Afghanistan, the Taliban are further tightening their control over women. Their supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, ordered, on Saturday May 7, Afghan women to wear the burqa, a full veil, in public spaces. This is the most severe restriction on their freedom since the Taliban returned to power in August.
“They should wear a tchadri [autre nom de la burqa]because it is traditional and respectful”notes the decree signed by Mr. Akhundzada and made public on Saturday by the Taliban government, in front of the press, in Kabul.
“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” to avoid provocation, adds this decree. If they don’t have an important job to do outside, it’s “better for them to stay at home”.
Despite promises, repression of women’s rights
The Taliban had also imposed the wearing of the full veil during their first stint in power, between 1996 and 2001, marked by a strong repression of women’s rights, in accordance with their ultra-rigorous interpretation of Sharia, Islamic law.
After taking power in mid-August, ending twenty years of occupation by the United States and its allies, who had driven them out in 2001, the Taliban had promised to be more flexible. But they soon reneged on their promises, steadily eroding rights again and sweeping away two decades of freedom won by women.
These are now largely barred from government jobs and banned from traveling alone. In March, the Taliban made high schools and colleges close to girls, just hours after their long-announced reopening. This unexpected volte-face, which was not justified except to say that the education of girls must be done in accordance with Sharia law, scandalized the international community.