Hijab is our duty, govt may allow us education, work: Women

KABUL (Pajhwok): A number of Afghan women and girls, reacting to the announcement of a new hijab plan by the government, say they not only have no problem with hijab, but also consider it an adornment for Muslim women.

However, these women asked the government not to prevent them from getting education and doing job.

According to the decree the caretaker government announced on Saturday, every garment used for covering the body is hijab but the garment should not be thin and tight to reveal body parts.

The vice and virtue ministry has been tasked with implementing the hijab decree which says it is mandatory and must for adult Muslim women to wear Islamic hijab.

The decree said that the chador, which has been a part of Afghan culture for centuries, is the best form of sharia hijab.

Women who are not old or young in terms of age must cover their faces except the eyes when confronted by non-mahram men in accordance with Shariah guidelines.

It was said that the people should be informed about the importance and benefits of hijab and the disadvantages of not wearing hijab through media and pulpits.

The decree said the first time a woman refusing to wear hijab should be identified and her guardian should be advised. In case of re-violation, the guardian should he be summoned to the relevant department and for third time violation, the guardian should he be detained for three days and for the fourth time should be handed over to the courts so that he can be sentenced accordingly.

However, ZabihullahMujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, said the plan would be implemented with caution and would not pose a threat to anyone.

The views of Afghan women and girls

Qari Zainab Moahid, a professor at Kabul University, in a Facebook post, said "The issue of hijab has been resolved for Muslim women centuries ago; Islamic commentators have added their opinions and the imams of the ummah all agree on its assumption, we (Afghan women) have consensus over its mandate.”

She said, "Hijab is obligatory on Muslim women, but mask and chador are not because the niqab is one of the traditional clothes of the Arab tribes; If the chador is the dress of some Afghan tribes, who mostly live in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa as well as the clothes of some other tribes on the banks of the Indus River; so chador and the niqab should not be imposed as an example and the perfect form of hijab, and a niqab waering woman can never claim superiority or piety over other women just because she wears the niqab, because piety is a matter between God and the worshipers, it is never determined by wearing a niqab."

"We Muslims believe that our religion is universal and responsible for all times, therefore, the Holy Quran, as the book responsible for all times, nowhere, in any verse, does not agree to conceal the identity of half of the population of humans…” she said.

She said that women should be given all Islamic rights including education, work and others.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, tweeted on March 8 on International Women's Day, "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is committed to upholding the Islamic rights of all Afghan women.”

Other officials of the current Afghan government have said they will not impede women's education, work and employment.

They say that schools would be opened to all girls above the sixth grade, and female employees will be invited to offices after they are provided with safe working environment.

After the fall of the previous government on August 15 last year, a number of female employees continue to work in some departments, but some others are paid their monthly salary while staying at home.

Zakia Ebrahimi, a former employee of the Ministry of Women's Affairs, said, "The Islamic hijab is not only a religious obligation, but also a very beautiful adornment and characteristic of Muslim women. Hijab is our honor, not a cell, we were fulfilling this religious obligation before this decree was issued, I will always wear the hijab as a Muslim girl."

She stressed the need for flexibility in implementing the hijab plan, and called on government officials not to prevent the work and education of women and girls, and to reopen all girls schools in the country.

Qudsia Ghanizada, a teacher at QalaZaman Khan Girls High School in Kabul, said: "I was surprised by the new announcement about the hijab; because we are Muslims, and we used to observe the hijab in our whole family before the Islamic Emirate’s plan...”

She also asked other women and girls to observe hijab and said, "Apart from fulfilling God's order, the hijab is also a protection for a Muslim woman and girl."

However, she urged the government not to ban women's education, work and employment and reopen all girls’ schools.

Fatimah Gilani, former head of the Afghan Red Crescent Society, says Afghanistan is an Islamic country and majority of the people of the country are Muslims who have historically lived with hijab, modesty and dignity.

"Women in Afghanistan have no problem with the hijab; women in all periods, especially during the four decades of struggles, have always been observing hijab and there is no need for someone to order Afghan women to observe hijab,” she said.

She said that the essential need of Afghan women at current time was food and work and their children should be provided with education.

"I was waiting for the Islamic Emirate to issue a decree for the opening of schools and for a decree for the work of women," she added. She hoped that women and girls will have access to these rights as soon as possible.

mds/ma