Afghan Women Call for Help as "Chador" Returns; Taliban: Our Fighters Are Not Trained to Talk to Women

Teachers and other female workers in two provinces in Afghanistan have reported harassment from Taliban fighters, despite the group's spokesperson promising on Tuesday that they would establish a policy to ensure the safety of women, according to Voice of America. Women in Takhar province, in the northeast of the country, and Kabul province say there are new restrictions concerning their clothing and work. A teacher in Takhar told the American site, "The Taliban is very aggressive with women here. They want women to wear the chador." The chador is a full-body covering with small holes for visibility. The teacher explained that the Taliban in the province has been so strict that they no longer allow women to wear the black burqa and are demanding the chador instead. She noted that they require women to leave the house only accompanied by a "mahram" (a male guardian). She stated, "Women here suffer a lot. They need to go out for their affairs and cannot have a mahram with them at all times." She confirmed that the Taliban has already forbidden male teachers from teaching female students. She added, "They also ordered that students be separated from girls, and they changed the curriculum." Changes in the curriculum have removed cultural and sports subjects and added more Islamic teachings, such as studying the Quran and the life of the Prophet Muhammad, although these subjects were already part of the curriculum before the Taliban takeover. In Kabul, the Taliban asked female staff at at least one hospital to separate their workspaces from men or to stay at home. They also requested that a Voice of America reporter, who left home wearing a hijab, cover her face as well. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated on Tuesday in Kabul that the group's fighters "are not trained to talk to women." He added, "This is why we ask women to stay home for now, but they will continue to receive salaries. Once we have a complete system, women can return to work." When a journalist pressed him, concerned for her safety, Mujahid said, "There's no need to worry." He continued, "You are civilians. There is no crime in being journalists." He acknowledged the possibility of scattered incidents of violence or harassment and promised to investigate them.