Male journalists from several major news outlets in Afghanistan have covered their faces on air in recent days, protesting the Taliban’s order that women, including TV presenters, cover their faces in public.
Their movements prompted other Afghan men to post photos with their faces covered as part of the #FreeHerFace social media campaign, Human Rights Watch reported.
Earlier this month, the Taliban issued an edict that older women and girls must cover their faces in public and avoid being outside if possible.
Last week, the Taliban’s Ministry of Vice and Virtue said female TV presenters should also wear face coverings, adding that ‘the decision is final and there is no room for discussion’ .
Few female news anchors complied when the rule was initially announced on Thursday, but on Sunday it appeared the policy was being enforced.
“The rule flagrantly violates women’s rights to free speech, as well as personal autonomy and religious belief,” wrote Human Rights Watch associate women’s rights director Heather Barr and the researcher Sahar Fetrat about the decision.
“It will also prevent access to information for people who are deaf or hard of hearing who read lips or rely on visual voice cues to help them understand people speaking,” they added.
Since taking control of Kabul in August, the Taliban have violated many women’s rights in Afghanistan, despite the promise of a fairer regime.
The hardline group has limited girls’ access to education by excluding them from secondary schools, restricted women’s employment opportunities and eliminated systems designed to protect women from violence.
