The Afghan burqa is a garment worn by women in Afghanistan for modesty. It covers the entire head and face, with a screen for vision. Although no longer mandatory, many women continue to wear it. The burqa is also worn in other countries for personal modesty and gender separation. It can be purchased in different colors and decorated with embroidery. While the Taliban made it mandatory, women have traditionally worn it for generations. Women in major Afghan cities dress less conservatively, but it is still commonly worn in rural areas.
An Afghan burqa is a garment worn by women in Afghanistan in compliance with Islamic and cultural standards of modesty. The garment loosely covers much of a woman’s body, including the entire head and face. In many cases, the Afghan burqa is shorter in the front than the back to allow women to lift the veil from the face when necessary, although a screen on the front of the garment gives its wearer the ability to see the world around her. Women wear additional clothing under the Afghan burqa as necessary to cover their torso and limbs. Wearing a burqa was made mandatory by law throughout Afghanistan during Taliban rule during the 1990s, and although Afghan women are no longer legally required to wear it, many women continue to do so.
Many Muslims wish to adhere to religious and cultural standards regarding modesty in appearance and boundaries within gender interactions. As such, both men and women can choose to dress in modest clothing that covers a significant amount of their bodies. Women in particular often wear very loose clothing, as well as scarves over their heads. This style of dress addresses concerns about personal modesty and can provide a barrier between women and men who are not closely related to each other. In traditional societies that are particularly concerned with gender separation, a wraparound garment, such as the Afghan burqa, functions as a barrier when women leave their homes and interact with the outside world.
An Afghan burqa can be purchased in one of several different colors, although blue is very common. The garment is often decorated with embroidery, particularly around the mesh screen at the front of the face veil. The top of the burqua is designed to fit comfortably around the wearer’s head, while the rest of the garment covers their body. It is possible for a woman to lift up the front of the Afghan burqa so that she can expose her face as she needs while enjoying a significant amount of body coverage.
During the reign of the Taliban, women in burkas became an international symbol of what was perceived as a repressive regime. However, several Afghan cultural experts have pointed out that while the Taliban government made wearing the Afghan burqa mandatory, women in Afghanistan and in other countries, such as Pakistan and India, have traditionally worn the burqa for generations. Since the overthrow of the Taliban, women in major Afghan cities dress less conservatively, although many women continue to wear the burqa. Outside of urban areas, the Afghan burqa is still commonly worn by the female population.
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