The Burqa And The Afghan Woman: A Mandatory Veil?

In May 2022, the Taliban government decreed that Afghan women must cover themselves from head to toe in public, with their eyes being the only body part that can be seen. The decree, issued by the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, has been condemned by women's rights advocates and the United Nations as a betrayal of the Taliban's pledges to respect gender equality. While the Taliban stopped short of mandating the burqa, they suggested it as the preferred garment for covering a woman's face, hair and body. Compliance by women is the responsibility of their male relatives or guardians, who will be punished for any violation.

The Taliban's decree on the burqa

On Saturday, May 7, 2022, the Taliban government decreed that Afghan women must cover themselves from head to toe in public, with only their eyes visible. The Taliban's Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice suggested the burqa as the preferred garment, but also allowed for a full hijab that covers the entire body and face, leaving only the eyes uncovered. This decree has been met with international condemnation, including from the United Nations and human rights organizations, as it is seen as a violation of women's rights and a step towards disappearing women from public life in Afghanistan.

The Taliban's justification for the decree is that it is in line with their interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan culture. They claim that it is necessary to protect women's "dignity and safety" and prevent "social disorder." However, this decree contradicts the Taliban's previous pledges to respect women's rights and has been met with resistance and protests from Afghan women, who argue that it is a violation of their basic rights and a form of control and discrimination.

The international community has also expressed concern over the decree, stating that it goes against the Taliban's obligations to protect women's rights if they wish to gain international recognition and have sanctions lifted. The impact of this decree on the Taliban's pursuit of international recognition and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan remains to be seen.

The impact on women's freedom

The impact of the Taliban's decree that women in Afghanistan must wear head-to-toe coverings in public, with the burqa suggested as the preferred option, has been far-reaching for women's freedom. The ruling has been described as a "cruel twist" as it makes women's male relatives and employers the enforcers. If a woman's face is seen in public, her male guardian will be fined, and then jailed. If the woman or her relative works for the government, they must be fired. The decree suggests that women should not leave their homes at all if possible, stating that staying at home is "the best option to observe the Sharia hijab".

The ruling has been met with dismay and outrage by Afghan women and activists, with one woman stating:

> Why have they reduced women to [an] object that is being sexualised?

The decree has been described as a "blatant violation of the right to freedom of choice and movement", with the Taliban being given the "space and time [by the international community] to impose additional reprisals and systematic discrimination".

The ruling has had a significant impact on women's autonomy, with their male guardians now being held responsible for policing their clothing and facing punishment if they do not comply. This has resulted in women having no say over their own clothing choices and a loss of freedom to make decisions about their lives and how to present themselves in public.

The burqa has been described as a "cage" and a "chain", with one woman stating:

> Wearing a burqa or niqab would make me feel like forgetting my all and last hope as a woman.

The ruling has also had a psychological impact, with women speaking about feeling frightened, and that they would not want to leave the house if forced to wear the burqa.

The enforcement of face coverings, especially the burqa, is viewed by many as a physical imposition and symbolic of the wider restrictions on women. The ruling has resulted in women being treated as minors in the eyes of Taliban officials and has removed all autonomy, with women now being entirely invisible, private citizens.

The impact of the decree has been felt differently across Afghanistan, with women in some provinces, such as Kandahar and Badghis, already largely complying with the ruling. In other provinces, such as Herat, women have been wearing a mix of clothing, with the burqa being a rare choice.

The Taliban's decree has resulted in a loss of freedom for women in Afghanistan, with a negative impact on their autonomy, psychological well-being, and ability to make decisions about their lives and how they present themselves in public.

Enforcement and punishment

The Taliban's Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice issued a decree in May 2022, stating that it is "required for all respectable Afghan women to wear a hijab". The Taliban has always imposed restrictions on the bodies of Afghan women, but this is the first decree that includes criminal punishment for non-compliance.

The decree suggests that the burqa is the preferred garment for covering a woman's face, hair and body, but it does not mandate wearing the garment as long as women cover themselves with a hijab. The burqa is a wide, pleated article that fits onto the head like a tight skullcap and has a thick grill across the face. The alternative is a full hijab that covers the entire body and face, leaving space for the eyes only.

Compliance by women is the responsibility of their male relatives or guardians. Non-compliance is a punishable offence, with men facing warnings, fines, and prison sentences if female relatives repeatedly flout the directive. Women without close male relatives are facing extreme hardship, unable to move freely from their homes, even to buy food.

The decree states that if a woman is caught without a hijab, her male guardian will first be warned, then summoned, and then imprisoned for three days. If the woman or her relative works for the government, they must be fired.

The Taliban's latest restriction on women's clothing has been met with widespread condemnation and outrage by Afghan women and activists. It is seen as another betrayal of the Taliban's pledges to respect gender equality and human rights. The international community has also expressed concern and stated that the Taliban's actions will impact their pursuit of international recognition.

The enforcement of the decree varies across Afghanistan, with some women in certain provinces continuing to wear their usual clothing without facing repercussions, while others have been forced to comply by the Taliban at checkpoints and through other means. Overall, the decree has had an impact on how women dress, as many have amended their clothing to avoid potential trouble for themselves or their male relatives.

International condemnation

The Taliban's decree that women in Afghanistan must cover themselves from head to toe, with the burqa as the preferred option, has been met with international condemnation. The decree, issued by the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, has been described as a betrayal of the Taliban's pledges to respect gender equality.

The United Nations, women's rights advocates, and governments around the world have expressed their disapproval of the Taliban's decision. The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, said he was "alarmed" by the development. The European Union also expressed "concern," and the U.N.'s Assistance Mission in Afghanistan stated that they were "deeply concerned."

The international community's condemnation of the burqa decree extends beyond words. The World Bank, which holds over $1 billion in trust for Afghanistan, has indicated that the release of these funds is contingent on progress toward equal access to education for women and girls. Additionally, there have been calls for the United States and its allies to oppose any renewal of the United Nations exemption to the international travel ban on Taliban leadership.

The Taliban's decision to impose the burqa on women in Afghanistan has been widely criticized and has led to discussions of potential consequences, including the withholding of financial resources.

The burqa as a symbol of subjugation

The burqa has been a symbol of the subjugation of women in Afghanistan. The Taliban's recent decree that women must cover themselves from head to toe, with the burqa as the preferred option, is a culmination of restrictions on women's rights since the Taliban took power in August 2021. This includes restrictions on their employment, education, travel, and other aspects of public life.

The burqa has long been seen as a symbol of patriarchal control of women's public attire in Afghanistan. During the Taliban's previous rule from 1996 to 2001, they required women to wear the burqa, which covered them from head to toe, with only their hands and feet visible, and a stitched facial netting for vision. This time, the Taliban have not made the burqa mandatory but have strongly recommended it as the "best hijab". The alternative is a full hijab that covers the entire body and face, leaving only the eyes uncovered.

The new decree has effectively removed all autonomy from Afghan women and girls, as their male guardians are now responsible for policing their clothing and will be punished if they do not comply. This dynamic gives men and boys even more power over the female members of their families and exacerbates the problem of domestic abuse. It also transforms women into minors in the eyes of the Taliban, stripping them of their autonomy and making them dependent on their male guardians' decisions.

The burqa is not just a piece of clothing but a powerful symbol of the oppression and subjugation of women, particularly Muslim women. It is a reminder of how the Taliban systematically abused the fundamental rights and freedoms of Afghan women during their previous rule, resulting in the lowest life expectancy and some of the highest rates of maternal death in the region. The Taliban's recent decree has been met with international condemnation and despair, with organisations like the State Department, the United Nations, and Human Rights Watch expressing deep concern.

While some women may choose to wear the burqa or hijab as an expression of their religious faith and identity, for many others, it is a symbol of forced submission and men's hegemonic superiority. It negates equality between the sexes and perpetuates violence and oppression against women. Banning the burqa would not help, as it would further restrict the rights of women who choose to wear it. Instead, the focus should be on addressing the root causes of women's oppression, such as discrimination, lack of access to services, and unequal economic opportunities.

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