The administration of the Taliban’s appeals court in Balkh province has met with local Shia scholars to impress upon them the importance of Shia women and girls observing the Taliban’s prescribed hijab.
Sources from the Council of Shia Ulemas in Balkh province, who spoke anonymously, informed Rukhshana Media about the court’s order made during a meeting titled “Unity between Shiites and Sunnis in Balkh.”
A source present at the meeting said the Taliban urged Shia scholars to promote adherence to the more all-encompassing hijab, which has not been the tradition in Shia communities. He added that the Taliban also asked the Shia scholars to follow the Taliban Supreme Court’s announcement of Eid al-Fitr that no group has the right to celebrate Eid a day before or after the court’s announcement.
One of the Shia scholars told Rukhshana Media that the principle of hijab is an Islamic absolute for all members of society, including men and women, and has specific limits for each gender in all religions. The scholar said that the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic hijab requires women to cover themselves from head to toe, but does not impose any specific limits for men.
The scholar explained that Sunnis believe covering the face and below the wrists of both hands is not part of the hijab’s scope and requirements, and women have the full authority to choose not to cover their faces. According to the scholar, the Taliban’s order conflicts with the requirements of the four Sunni sects and is not adhering to religious principles.
The religious scholar said, “Hijab is clearly defined in the Shia religion. That is, covering the face and both hands of women are not requirements of hijab, and Shiite women and girls observe hijab based on Jafari jurisprudence.” He emphasized that the Taliban’s request is neither in line with the well-known views of the four Sunni sects nor with Jafari jurisprudence, and is considered an ideological imposition by the Taliban.
The scholar added that the issue is unacceptable for Shiites because the order is neither in accordance with Hanafi jurisprudence nor Jafari jurisprudence, and rather, represents the Taliban’s exercise of their own interpretation of Islam.
This comes amid reports that the Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education decided a few days ago to forbid the teaching of Shia jurisprudence texts in the country’s universities.
