WUNRN
http://www.dailydot.com/lifestyle/afghan-men-burqas-protest/
Afghanistan – Men Wear Burqas to Protest Gender Inequality
By Marisa Kabas – March 5, 2015
Since the Taliban took control in
Afghanistan in the '90s, Afghan women have been forced to wear burqas, a garment covering
them head-to-toe with just a mesh window for their eyes. In anticipation of International Women’s Day
on March 8, a group of men wearing burqas took to the streets to protest the
unequal treatment of women in their country.
The activists were affiliated with a group
called Afghan Peace Volunteers.
“Our authorities will be celebrating International Women's Day in big hotels,
but we wanted to take it to the streets," activist Basir, 29, told
Reuters."One of the best ways to understand how women feel is to walk
around and wear a burqa."
The men wore homemade blue burqas, which stood in sharp
contrast to the gray skies and muddy streets. Journalist Zheena Nasari shared photos on
Facebook of the men marching on the streets of Kabul.
In the photos, you can see the men carrying various
signs, bearing the words "equality," and "Don't tell women what
to wear, you should cover your eyes."
While people across the world have praised
the protest as a step in the right direction toward equality in Afghanistan,
some witnesses were not as moved. The burqa has become so ingrained in Afghan
culture that it seems some don't see the sociopolitical implications of the
protest. Many view wearing a burqa as an example of a respectful cultural
tradition. One police officer told Reuters, "What's the point of this? All
of the women in my family wear burqas. I wouldn't let them go out without
one."
The protest comes on the heels of another protest just
last week by a female Afghan artist named Kabri Khademi. Khademi wore a suit of
armor in public, which was intended as a commentary on the widespread street
harassment in Kabul.