The Taliban’s Virtue Promoters in Bamiyan closely monitor the public institutions and ban women without Burqa (a type of hijab with holes on the face covering the whole body of the women) to enter the government offices. Rahmatullah Haqqani, Head of the Taliban’s Virtue Promoters made the remarks on Wednesday at the beginning of the educational year in the center of Bamiyan province. He further added that women without Burqa will not be allowed to enter the government offices.
The Taliban have justified the new decrees so as to ensure women do not attract the Mujahidin and all women are obliged to follow the instructions.
Haqqani has further declared that women and man should not face each others on pathways and the Virtue Promoters in the province insist that male civil servants will not be allowed to shave their beards, adding that wearing turbans is mandatory afterward and the violators will face severe consequences.
Simultaneously, the same restrictions and decrees are issued in Balkh province. “No women without Hijab will be allowed to enter schools and government offices.” Mawlawi Nizamuddin, the Head of Virtue Promoters Department in Balkh emphasized. Moreover, the decrees further declare that male employees in government offices should dress completely in Islamic clothing and the five-time prayers should be performed in Jamahat. All the people are invited in Jamahat and those who do not will be forced to do so and no excuse will be entertained.
Similar instructions were previously issued unofficially, but this is the first time they have officially issued decrees, imposing more restrictions.