KABUL’s first lady Bibi Gul had been quoted out of context regarding France’s controversial ban on the niqab.
An AFP report in English on Oct 31 quoted the Afghanistan’s new first lady as backing France’s ban on the niqab and comparing the full veil to “blinders” as she prepares to campaign for more respect for women in her homeland.
The Presidential Palace in a statement said the first lady’s conversation with the news agency was in French language, which had been taken totally out of context.
The statement quoted Rula Ghani (BiBi Gul) as saying: “I support and will campaign for rights of women of Afghanistan in line with provisions of the country’s Constitution and concepts.”
It said Rula Ghani meant to say in her conversation with the AFP writer that 40 years ago, when she had been studying in France, many women would wear veils and no one had any problem with that.
The AFP report published in various news outlets quoted the first lady as backing France’s ban on the niqab.
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