By Spy Uganda Correspondent
Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers on Saturday ordered all Afghan women to wear head-to-toe clothing in public, a hardline move that confirmed the worst fears of rights activists and was bound to further complicate Taliban dealings with an already distrustful international community.
The decree says that women should leave the home only when necessary, and that male relatives would face punishment, starting with a summons and escalating to court hearings and prison, for women’s dress code violations.
It was the latest in a series of repressive edicts issued by the Taliban leadership, not all of which have been implemented.
Last month the Taliban forbade women from travelling alone, but after a day of opposition, that has since been silently ignored.
Deeply Concerned
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said it was deeply concerned with what appeared to be a formal directive that would be implemented and enforced, adding that it would seek clarifications from the Taliban about the decision.
“This decision contradicts numerous assurances regarding respect for and protection of all Afghans’ human rights, including those of women and girls, that had been provided to the international community by Taliban representatives during discussions and negotiations over the past decade,” it said in a statement.
The decree, which calls for women to only show their eyes and recommends they wear the head-to-toe burka, evoked similar restrictions on women during the Taliban’s previous rule between 1996 and 2001.
