Kabul women protest against new hijab rules

KABUL (Pajhwok): A number of women on Tuesday protested in capital Kabul against the new hijab rules, while the Ministry of Vice and Virtue says that hijab is an Islamic rule and is mandatory.

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 or 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.

A number of women today protested in Shahr-i-Naw area of Kabul against the new dress code.

The women chanted, "Burqa is not our hijab, no to forced hijab, the people of Afghanistan need a piece of bread, justice and are tired of crimes…”

Munsa, one of the protesters, claimed that all government programs were focused on imposing restrictions on women and the government wanted to keep women out of politics and social issues.

She said that Islamic hijab has its conditions and the current government officials wanted to impose their own culture on Afghan women.

Mohammad SadiqAkifMuhajir, a spokesman for the Ministry of Vice and Virtue said, "Our Afghan sisters are Muslims and a Muslim woman can never oppose the Islamic ruling, those who oppose the hijab are either provoked by others or unaware of this Islamic ruling.”

A number of Afghan women and girls, in response to the announcement of the new hijab rule, had earlier said they had no problem with the Islamic hijab and they considered it an adornment and obligation of Muslim women. However, the women said that the new government should not prevent women and girls from education and work.

ZabihullahMujahid, 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.

After the regime change in the country last August, a number of female employees of the government continue to work in some offices, but others are given a monthly salary without being called to their duty.

mds/ma