Taliban posters in Afghanistan: Criticism of women who do not wear hijab
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In Kandahar, the Taliban's Amr Bil Ma'ruf department has put up posters to encourage women to wear the hijab, saying "women imitate animals without wearing the hijab."
Abdul Rehman Tayyabi, a well-known Taliban leader in Kandahar, confirmed to that he had put up the posters at the request of Sheikh Habibullah Akhundzada, a senior Taliban leader in the city.
One poster reads, ''Hijab is obligatory, it should not be considered a ban.''
There has been a strong reaction in the media to these posters and it is being called an insult to women.
Taliban chief of staff Abdul Rehman Taybi said the posters were intended as "advice" and were not intended to insult women.
He said the aim was to get people on the "right track".
Taybi had last week asked taxi and rickshaw drivers in Kandahar not to allow unmasked women to board.
He also said that listening to music and radio in cars and celebrations etc. is also forbidden.
The Taliban leader also banned women from leaving the house without a niqab, shaving their beards and shaving in the "English style".
Muhammad Sadiq Akif, a government spokesman in Kabul, said the posters had been put up in some provinces to raise awareness about the hijab.
He said, ''The hijab is a woman's adornment.''
The Ministry of Education has also put up posters in Kabul universities telling students what to wear and what not to wear.
These posters say that students should not wear colorful and vibrant clothes and should not wear make-up.
According to locals in Kabul and some other provinces Taliban were encouraging people to grow beards while patrolling highways.
Ever since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, they have imposed sanctions on women in particular. Human rights groups say the Taliban are closing the door on social life for women.
The Taliban has denied the allegations, saying women in Afghanistan have "all rights under Sharia law."