KABUL: In a recent statement, the Department of Vice and Virtue in Bamiyan has urged local businessmen not to import form-fitting attire for women that is deemed “incompatible with Sharia and Afghan cultural norms.” The department’s message resonates with a call for preserving traditional values and discouraging Western fashion influences.
Describing the use of “tight, thin, and short” clothing as an emulation of Western culture, the department has appealed to the residents of Bamiyan Province to abstain from adopting these styles. Mahmoodul Hassan Mansouri, the head of the Department of Vice and Virtue, emphasized that the authorities have advised traders, shopkeepers, and artisans that we are Muslims, and our culture is rooted in Islam. Therefore, imported clothing must align with Afghan culture and traditions. Clothing that strays from Islamic values, such as short, tight, and thin attire, should not be imported, as our society is Islamic.
Directive garners mixed ractions in Bamiyan
This directive has garnered mixed reactions within the province. While some cultural activists laud the decision, asserting that women in Bamiyan have consistently observed the hijab, others hold contrasting opinions. Abdul Ali Shafaq, a cultural activist, commented, In Afghanistan, there isn’t a specific dress culture. Women often wear styles influenced by Iran, Arabia, and India. Given the Vice and Virtue Ministry’s stance that Muslim women should adhere to modest clothing, this decision aligns with our cultural values, and Afghan women need not embrace Western attire.
Zainab Sadaat, another cultural activist, echoed this sentiment by stating, We women have always adhered to the hijab as part of our Islamic responsibility.
Meanwhile, local shopkeepers have reported receiving instructions to withdraw thin and tight-fitting garments from their stores. Ali Riza, a shopkeeper, expressed his approval of this decision, saying, We have been instructed not to import short, tight, and thin clothes. We are delighted with this decision because we are all Muslims.
The Department of Vice and Virtue in Bamiyan has made it clear that individuals who defy this directive will face serious consequences, underlining the importance it places on upholding traditional values and Islamic principles in the province.
