Vice and Virtue Ministry to appoint women ombudspersons

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Vice and Virtue says about 900 shaving, under age and drug addicts have been expelled from the military and efforts are being made to hire female ombudspersons in the ministry.

Mohammad Sadiq Akif, the ministry’s spokesman, told a meeting in Kabul they were trying to establish a department of female ombudspersons in the ministry so that women could be corrected.

He said the ministry expelled about 900 beard shavers, minors and addicts from the military ranks during the past one year.

During the period, Akif said, the ministry’s Complaints Hearing Department registered 1089 complaints through telephone and 715 through official petitions.

He adds: “These complaints were about oppression and violence, private cars and houses which had been taken into custody by the government and after the investigation, they were handed over to their owners.”

He said out of 715 complaints, 117 were completely resolved, 519 complaints sent to the Department of Analysis and Audi. The remaining 79 complaints which were not maintainable were sent to the relevant departments after instructions and satisfaction to the complainants.

Akif said the ministry’s ombudsmen had been appointed in government organs to invite people to “good deeds” and prevent them from vice.

He claimed 99 percent of women in Afghanistan observed the hijab before, but 20 years of occupation had its consequences and that was why they stressed on observance of the hijab.

To a question, Akif said no relative of a woman had been called to the ministry for not observing the hijab because many women observed the hijab on their own.

The Ministry of Vice and Virtue separated men’s and women’s days in parks so that women could have freedom to enjoy, he said.

Since the caretaker government’s coming to power, the Ministry of Vice and Virtue has issued many decrees regarding various matters including women’s hijab, but according to the ministry officials, these decrees are only advisory.

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