In the wake of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the issue of women’s face coverings and their access to public spaces has become a subject of concern and controversy. The Taliban’s Ministry of Vice and Virtue has asserted that the visibility of women’s faces in public can lead to sin and compromise their value in society.
Molvi Mohammad Sadiq Akif, the spokesman for the Taliban’s Ministry of Vice and Virtue, recently emphasized the significance of women covering their faces when outside the home. Citing the concept of fitna, or temptation, Akif explained that the exposure of women’s faces in public spaces is believed to lead to undesirable consequences. According to him, women’s value decreases if men are able to see them without a hijab. He further emphasized that a woman’s respect is preserved when she adheres to the practice of wearing a hijab, an act that holds value as per Islamic teachings.
Tim Winter, an Islamic Studies scholar at Cambridge University, noted that there is no explicit scriptural mandate in Islam for face coverings. He pointed out that the Taliban’s interpretation of hijab rules lacks solid backing from Islamic scripture. Winter highlighted that the Taliban, as the term suggests, are primarily students rather than senior religious experts. He also highlighted that the Taliban’s religious knowledge is considered lacking by many Muslim scholars who have interacted with them in the past.
The Taliban’s oppressive restrictions on girls and women have sparked global outrage, including from several Muslim-majority countries. U.N. special envoy Gordon Brown recently called for the International Criminal Court to prosecute Taliban leaders for crimes against humanity. The denial of education and employment opportunities to Afghan girls and women is seen as a grave violation of human rights.
The Ministry of Vice and Virtue operates from a fortified compound near Darul Aman Palace in Kabul. Concrete barricades bear slogans praising the promotion of virtues and prohibition of vices as essential for maintaining social order. The ministry relies on a network of officials and informants who monitor public spaces to ensure compliance with regulations pertaining to women’s access and behavior.
The Taliban’s insistence on face coverings for women in public spaces reflects their strict interpretation of religious teachings. However, their stance has faced criticism both domestically and internationally, with scholars highlighting the lack of scriptural mandate for such restrictions. The restrictions imposed on women’s access to public spaces raise concerns about gender equality and human rights. The debate surrounding this issue will likely continue as Afghanistan transitions under the Taliban’s rule.
Market Capital Research 