Afghanistan: Since regaining power last year, the Taliban have imposed a raft of restrictions on civil society, with many of them aimed at restricting women’s and girls’ rights.

Kabul: Women presenters on Afghanistan’s major television channels went on live Saturday without wearing facial coverings; defying a Taliban mandate that they do so in order to adhere to the group’s strict interpretation of Islam.
Since regaining power last year, the Taliban have placed a number of limitations on civil society; many of which target women’s and girls’ rights.

Women TV presenters were told to follow suit by Saturday by the feared Ministry; for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

They were previously just needed to wear a headscarf.

However, TOLOnews, Shamshad TV, and 1TV all carried live programmes on Saturday with women presenters.

“Our female colleagues are worried that if they conceal their faces, they would be told to cease working,” Shamshad TV news director Abid Ehsas stated.