Presenters of different TV channels in Afghanistan began this Sunday (22) to cover their faces to go on air, obeying the orders of the Taliban regime.
Since regaining power in the Asian country in August following the withdrawal of US troops, the Taliban have imposed a series of restrictions on civil society, many of them targeting women.
Earlier this month, the Taliban’s paramount chief issued an order for women to cover themselves completely to go out in public, ideally wearing the traditional burqa. Until then, cloths that covered the hair were enough.
The Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice resorted to threats to ensure that the country’s TV presenters began to cover their faces from this Sunday. Until the day before, the press professionals continued to expose their faces.
This Sunday, presenters from Tolo News, Ariana Television, Shamshad TV and 1TV adopted the outfit, leaving only their eyes exposed.
“We resist, we are against the use [do véu completo]”, Tolo News presenter Sonia Niazi told AFP news agency. “But Tolo News has come under pressure, [os talibãs] said that any presenter appearing on screen without covering her face should be shifted to another role.”
Tolo News director Khpolwak Sapai told AFP that the channel had been forced to enforce order on its professionals. “Yesterday they called me and told me in strict terms to do it. So we don’t do it by choice, we were forced to.”
Spokesperson for the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, Mohamad Sadeq Akif Mohajir, said the authorities had no intention of forcing the presenters to quit their jobs. “We are happy that the channels correctly exercised their responsibility,” he told AFP.
Public servants who flout the order to cover their faces risk being fired.
Before dress orders, the Taliban had already banned Afghan women from traveling unaccompanied and imposed the separation of girls and boys in schools.
Thus, the radical group is restoring the restrictions that were in force during the first period in which the group was in power in Afghanistan, between 1996 and 2001.
