| In
a move that carries echoes of Nazi Germany, where
Jews were forced to wear the Star of David, the
hardline Taliban in Afghanistan now want minorities
to wear distinctive clothing to identify themselves.
On Tuesday May 23, Mohammed Wali, who heads the
Taliban's Ministry for Promotion of Virtue and
Prevention of Vice, confirmed his plans to require
religious minorities living in Afghanistan to wear
distinctive clothing.
Wali
claimed the decision was in accordance with Islamic
precedents and was meant to protect religious minorities.
However, the planned decree would only apply to Hindus. "Sikhs
are already easily identified by their turban and
other religious objects," said the Taliban's
official Bakhtar news agency. "The measure was
aimed at protecting non-Muslims who could be stopped
by the religious police."
The planned measure would also reportedly
require Hindu women to wear the burqa, a cloth
that covers the body from head-to-toe, of a
different color -- possibly yellow. Men would
be required to wear turbans and an identifying
symbol. Hindu households may also be required
to prominently hang yellow cloth strips about
two meters long outside their houses. Hindus
would also be required to not live with Muslims.
It was unclear whether the Taliban's principal
head Mullah Mohammad Omar, whose approval is
required, has endorsed the measure. About 800
to 1,000 Hindus are said to remain in Kabul,
while others are scattered throughout Afghanistan.
Wali, a puritanical Islamic official who wields
significant influence, was said to be seeking
a fatwa (religious decree) to turn his plans
officially into law. The Taliban currently
controls more than 90 percent of Afghanistan,
while battles for the remainder continue against
the opposing Northern Alliance. The Taliban
came to power in 1993-1994 by rallying fundamentalist
students (Talibs) from religious schools (madrassas)
in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The
Taliban's interpretation of Islam has progressively
grown stricter and now bans television,
radio, employing or schooling women, and music
except Islamic chants. Much like Goering’s
Gestapo, Wali's religious police seek out and
punish Muslims who are not praying five times
a day, as required in Islam. Most recently
they raided a hospital for allowing men and
women to eat together, and closed down relief
agencies for hiring Afghan women. Wali reports
to Mullah Omar who ordered the destruction
of priceless Buddhist and other statues.
The Taliban, which is under UN sanctions for
hosting suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden
and his training camps, has lashed out at the
world body for imposing tougher sanctions and
failing to credit them for drastically cutting
opium production.
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