Taliban tightens dress rules: Burqa now mandatory for female teachers in Herat

In Afghanistan’s Herat province, all women teachers are now required to wear a burqa, Atlas Press reports, citing a statement from the Taliban-appointed regional governor.

The new Taliban order says no female teacher is allowed to enter schools without wearing the burqa.

According to Amu TV, the restrictions extend beyond schools. Women without a burqa are reportedly denied access to hospitals, civil registry offices, the education department, banks, and other institutions.

Witnesses say that even those wearing an Islamic hijab often have to wait outside for hours without being allowed entry.

Meanwhile, Kabul Now reports that authorities have also prohibited taxi drivers from transporting women who are not wearing a burqa. Local sources indicate that Taliban forces have set up checkpoints to enforce the new rules.

The Taliban administration in Herat had previously banned the wearing of manteaux (coats) for women and had designated the prayer shawl as the only acceptable form of dress. Now, with the burqa made compulsory even for teachers and medical professionals, public space for women in Herat continues to shrink drastically.

By Khagan Isayev