Taliban tightens regime and imposes new restrictions – Details

In a new form of extremism targeting Afghan women in particular, the Taliban imposed today, Saturday, the harshest restrictions on women since they seized power last August. They ordered them to wear the burqa, which covers them completely in public places.

Since seizing power last August, the Taliban have promised more resilient rule than their last period in power between 1996 and 2001, which was dominated by human rights violations. They imposed a large number of restrictions on women, preventing them from many government jobs, secondary education, and traveling alone outside their cities or outside Afghanistan.

Afghan Supreme Leader and Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada was quoted by Radio France 24 as announcing strict regulations for women’s clothing in public places.

A decree in his name issued by the Taliban authorities at a ceremony held in Kabul said: “They have to wear the burka from head to toe, because it is traditional and respectful”.

The statement said: “Women who are neither old nor young must cover their faces, except for the eyes, in accordance with Sharia guidelines, to avoid provocation when meeting men”. The decree of Akhundzada also stipulated that “if women do not have important work abroad, it is better to stay at home”.

It was expected to trigger a wave of condemnation abroad, with many in the international community wanting to link humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and recognize the Taliban government to restore women’s rights.

Radical Islamists provoked international outrage in March when they ordered the closure of girls’ secondary schools, just hours after they were reopened for the first time since they seized power. Officials never justified the ban, except for saying that girls’ education should be in accordance with “Islamic principles”.