Published on 12:18 PM, September 15, 2021

#DoNotTouchMyClothes: Afghan women’s online campaign against Taliban dress code

Dr Bashar Jalali. Photo: Twitter/ RoxanaBahar1

Afghan women have started an online campaign to protest the Taliban's strict dress code for female students, reports BBC.

Using hashtags like #DoNotTouchMyClothes and #AfghanistanCulture, many are sharing pictures of their colourful traditional dresses on social media.

"This is the real #afghan culture the #taliban are trying to hide #AfghanistanCulture #DoNotTouchMyClothes #AfghanWomen #Afghanistan Thank you to @RoxanaBahar1 for inspiring this movement to show the world real #AfghanCulture" wrote Tamana Nasir. Photo: Twitter/ @Tamana_nasir

"Taliban/Pakistan culture is profoundly different from Afghan culture. We are a country of colors, embellishments, adornments, patterns. We will not sit idle as our identity comes under assault & an attempt is made to erase us as a nation," tweeted Dr Bahar Jalali, who started the campaign.

"This is Afghan culture. My traditional dress #AfghanWomen Thank you to Dr @RoxanaBahar1 for the inspiration. Our cultural attire is not the dementor outfits the Taliban have women wearing," Peymana Asad wrote. Photo: Twitter/@Peymasad

"We can find strength and solidarity even as we struggle with the forces of darkness," the former history professor at the American University in Afghanistan wrote in another tweet.

"I paint #Afghan women in traditional clothes to show the world our beautiful culture. One of my old paintings Down pointing backhand index." wrote Malali Bashir. Photo: Twitter/@MalaliBashir

"Fight back with your dresses, art, poetry, writings, music. Foreigners can't touch our history & culture," she wrote.

"My mom (with me in her belly), my khalas, and my sisters in Afghanistan dresses Flag of Afghanistan #donottouchmyclothes #afghanistanwomen #AfghanistanCulture," wrote Ariana Delawari. Photo: Twitter/ @arianadelawari