By Mohammad Yunus Yawar

KABUL (Reuters). Taliban officials in Afghanistan asked TV broadcasters to cover the faces of female presenters when they are on-air, an official stated on Thursday.

After directing women to cover themselves in public for the past few days, authorities made this move. This is a return to an old policy that was used by Taliban hardliners and an increasing number of restrictions that have been causing anger both at home as well as abroad.

“Yesterday they met with media officers…they accepted their advice very happily,” Akif Mahjar, a spokesperson for Taliban’s Ministry of Vice and Virtue told Reuters. The Taliban also stated that Afghans will be happy to receive this action.

Mahajar said that the move was “advice”. However, he added that the “last date for the face covering of TV presenters” is May 21, which refers to when compliance should start with the new rule.

A question asking him about the implications of following his advice was not answered.

For religious reasons, most Afghan women have a headscarf. However, many Afghans living in cities like Kabul don’t cover their faces. The all-encompassing, blue burqa was mandatory for Afghan women during the Taliban’s final rule in 1996.

Mahajar stated that female presenters can wear a medical mask like was used in the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the U.S. invasion in 2001, the Taliban government fell in Afghanistan and the Taliban ruled at that time. Women from Afghanistan were able to pursue education and work after this incident.

Although the Taliban claims it has improved since its previous rule, they recently introduced regulations that limit women’s movements without male chaperones. The Taliban has not allowed older girls over 13 to return to colleges and schools.

A female television station employee spoke out to say that Taliban officials visited her office Wednesday, but she wished not to be identified.

The employee stated that although the masks were worn by the production team, the news office carried on as normal.

Some broadcasters have begun to implement the rule.