Khalid Hanafi Calls Global Criticism of Compulsory Hijab “Unfair”

Source: Ariana News / X;

Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban’s Minister for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, has called global reactions to the group’s policies on women’s dress “unfair” during a visit to Herat.

The Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice published parts of Hanafi’s speech in Herat on Monday (13 July). According to the ministry’s statement, he spoke about the implementation of the Taliban’s morality law in a meeting with scholars, local officials, tribal elders and influential figures from Farah, Ghor, Herat and Badghis provinces.

Hanafi said at the meeting that some institutions and countries limit human rights to a few issues. He claimed that the Taliban have ensured human rights in Afghanistan “in accordance with Islamic Sharia”.

The Taliban’s morality minister also criticised global reactions to women’s hijab in Afghanistan, saying that in some countries there is silence over violence against women and children, but there are widespread reactions to what he called the “observance of Sharia hijab” in Afghanistan.

In another part of his remarks, he addressed the media and called on media officials to comply with the Taliban’s morality law and to use the media to promote the values favoured by the group.

These remarks come as the arrest of women in Herat on charges of failing to observe the Taliban’s required hijab has faced protests by residents of the Jebrael area and reactions from human rights organisations in recent weeks.

UNAMA had earlier said the Taliban arrested at least 30 women in Herat on 27 and 28 May on charges of failing to observe hijab, and verbally threatened hundreds of other women.

After these arrests, residents of Herat’s Jebrael area took to the streets in protest. However, the Taliban violently suppressed the protest, leaving at least two people dead and several others wounded.

Human rights organisations and international bodies have condemned the arrest of women over their clothing and the use of force against protesters. They have said peaceful protest is a right of the people and suppressing it amounts to a human rights violation.

Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on the education, work, movement, clothing and social presence of women and girls. The group’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has in recent years become one of the main bodies enforcing these restrictions.

The Taliban morality minister’s claim about ensuring human rights comes as women and girls in Afghanistan have been deprived of education above the sixth grade, university studies, many work opportunities and free participation in public life.