Since the Taliban movement seized power in Afghanistan, attention has turned to Afghan women and the strict restrictions that may fall on them in the coming years.
Since then, a group of Afghan women have launched a campaign on social media;
Protesting the new dress code imposed by the Taliban on women and requiring the burqa as a mandatory dress code.
The campaign raised the slogan "Afghan culture" (#AfghanistanCulture).
Under the hashtag “DoNotTouchMyClothes” (#DoNotTouchMyClothes), the women shared, on social media, pictures of them in colorful traditional Afghan clothes.
The campaign was launched by Bahar Jalali, a former professor of history at the American University of Afghanistan, to protest the Taliban's imposition of a compulsory dress code on women.
Jalali posted a photo of her in an elegantly embroidered traditional dress, and tweeted, "This is Afghan culture. I'm wearing traditional Afghan dress."
This is Afghan culture.
I am wearing a traditional Afghan dress.
#AfghanistanCulture pic.twitter.com/DrRzgyXPvm
— Dr.
Bahar Jalali (@RoxanaBahar1) September 12, 2021
In her interview with the BBC, Jalali said she started the campaign because "one of my biggest interests - Afghanistan's identity and sovereignty - is under attack".
Jalali urged other Afghan women to share their photos to show "the true face of Afghanistan," and continued, "I wanted to tell the world that the clothes you see in the media are not our culture, this is not our identity."
This is another traditional Afghan dress from a different part of Afghanistan.
I was a teenager in this pic.
We will not let our culture to be appropriated by those who want to erase us.
#DoNotTouchMyClothes #AfghanistanCulture pic.twitter.com/dMwnBS7vuT
— Dr.
Bahar Jalali (@RoxanaBahar1) September 12, 2021
Afghan women also shared their photos in traditional Afghan dress, and showcased the diversity and cultural richness of their country.
A young Afghan woman posted a picture of her mother and sisters in traditional clothes, and commented, "This is my mother while she was carrying me, and my sisters in Afghan dresses."
My mom (with me in her belly), my khalas, and my sisters in Afghanistan dresses 🇦🇫🏔 #donottouchmyclothes #afghanistanwomen #AfghanistanCulture pic.twitter.com/P7i9bb0Em7
— ariana delawari (@arianadelawari) September 13, 2021
Meanwhile, Indian-Canadian UN coordinator Arora Akanksha posted a picture of her dressed in elegant heritage clothes.
Arora - who intends to nominate herself as Secretary-General of the United Nations - commented, "In solidarity with the beautiful and strong Afghan women, the Afghan culture is completely opposite to what we saw in those pictures. Neither the Taliban nor anyone can prevent these women from believing in Afghan culture."
In "Solidarity" with Beautiful and Strong Afghan Women.
Afghan culture is very much opposite to what we saw in those pictures.
No "Taliban" or anyone can stop these women to embrace Afghan culture.
#AfghanistanCulture #BeautifulAfghanistan pic.twitter.com/svulLE2r1i
— Arora Akanksha (@arora4people) September 14, 2021
While human rights activist Subzmay Msed wore a traditional embroidered dress, she tweeted, "This is our authentic Afghan dress. Afghan women wear such colorful and modest clothes."
This is our Afghan authentic dress.
Afghan women wear such colorful and modest attires.
The black burqa never has been part of the Afghan culture.
#FreeAfghanistan🇦🇫 pic.twitter.com/v9LIbcvklG
— Spozhmay Maseed (@spozhmey) September 12, 2021
Some participants in the campaign also confirmed that its goal is to preserve authentic Afghan traditions, support Afghan women, and protest any form of deprivation of the right to choose clothes, according to the description of the tweets.
I thought about whether I should join this campaign & share vibrant photos of our traditional clothing when women back home are stripped of their choices & our people are getting massacred but this how we keep our traditions alive!
#DoNotTouchMyClothes#AfghanistanCulture pic.twitter.com/JT8VXQBwYk
— Elaha (she/her) (@dressingsonnets) September 12, 2021
Deutsche Welle's Wasel Hasrat Nazimi shared a picture of her in traditional Afghan clothes, saying, "I wear traditional Afghan clothing in Kabul. This is Afghan culture and this is how Afghan women dress."
Me wearing traditional Afghan attire in Kabul.
This is Afghan culture and this is how Afghan women dress.
@RoxanaBahar1 pic.twitter.com/fUZSqy4rRK
— Waslat Hasrat-Nazimi (@WasHasNaz) September 12, 2021
The Afghan media, Tahmina Aziz, also announced her pride in wearing the colorful traditional Afghan clothes, stressing that the pictures circulated in the news bulletins do not express the Afghan women.
I wear my traditional Afghan dress proudly.
It's colorful and beautiful.
Not at all like the images you saw circulating yesterday.
Thank you @RoxanaBahar1 who's encouraging us #AfghanWomen to share the beauty of #AfghanistanCulture.
pic.twitter.com/OAyNhku78l
— Tahmina Aziz (@tahmina_aziz) September 12, 2021
Afghan traditional clothing varies by geographical sector, but it shares basic features such as dense embroidery, bright colors, and the loose dresses worn by women in folk ceremonies.
On the other hand, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid pledged - in his first appearance in front of the media in mid-August - to give Afghan women their full rights in accordance with Sharia.
The Taliban also pledged earlier that there would be no infringement on women's rights and gains, and that they would have an active presence during the new Taliban era.
Meanwhile, the new Taliban Minister of Higher Education recently announced that female students will be allowed to attend gender-separate classes at universities, but only in appropriate Islamic dress.