The Taliban have commanded female Afghan TV presenters and other women on the broadcast to cover their faces while on air.
According to a religious police spokeswoman, media outlets were informed of the proclamation on Wednesday.
The Decision
The decision comes two weeks after all women were told to cover their faces in public or face a penalty.
Women are restricted; they are not permitted to travel without a male guardian, and secondary schools for girls are closed.
An Afghan journalist who did not wish to be identified works for a small TV station in Kabul and said that the latest news astonished her.
She told the BBC that “they exert indirect pressure on us to prevent us from presenting on television.”
“With my lips covered, how can I read the news? I’m not sure what to do now; I need to work because I am my family’s breadwinner.” According to Reuters, the new rule will take effect on May 21, citing a spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue.
The spokesman described the regulation as “advice”, and it is unclear what would happen to those who do not follow it.According to information gathered by the Tolo news, the news station stated that the order had been sent to all media outlets in Afghanistan.
Twitter Response
The move has been heavily panned on Twitter, with many accusing the Taliban of taking another step toward extremism.
“Masks are used all around the world to protect people from Covid. The Taliban use masks to keep people from seeing the faces of female journalists. Women are a sickness to the Taliban, “Tweeted one campaigner.
The private Shamshad news station broadcasts a picture of a presenter wearing a mask. Other similar photos have circulated on social media.
Taliban Now
The Taliban required women to wear the all-encompassing burka in public during their first tenure in office in the 1990s.
After US-led soldiers drove the hardline Islamist organisation out of power in 2001, numerous restrictions were lifted. Women displaying their faces on television became commonplace.
The Taliban had put off publishing new guidelines on what women should wear after retaking control last August following the withdrawal of international soldiers.
This gave rise to expectations that they would lead Afghanistan, a fiercely traditional and patriarchal country, with greater flexibility this time.
Women are not required to cover their faces in most Muslim countries, yet most Muslims oppose women working.
Some women are still working in Afghanistan, such as in healthcare and education. Still, many more have been warned not to return to work now that the Taliban has reclaimed control.
Under the Taliban administration, the nation has been thrown into economic chaos and hunger.
Western officials have stated that the resumption of development financing and the release of blocked funds are contingent on women’s improved treatment.
Early expectations that the Taliban might soften their stance have been dashed, indicating that the group’s hardliners are gaining the upper hand.
The BBC talked with a journalist in Kabul who urged the international community to pressure the Taliban.
“They should inform them they have ten days to change or relations and help will be shut off.”
She believes the Taliban want to prohibit women from working outside the house in any capacity. “They want women to live at home like captives.
They issued rulings against us every day, and I don’t think we’ll be able to live.”
Read More – Following a Taliban rule for female newsreaders, male anchors wear masks on air.
