Afghanistan’s Taliban leaders have published new rules on women’s hijab, stating that it must be made of thick material, non-decorative and unperfumed.

The Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs instructed preachers and imams across the country to read the requirements during Friday prayer sermons.

Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban have arrested and imprisoned hundreds of women and girls for allegedly failing to comply with hijab regulations.

Earlier this month, Taliban morality police detained at least 30 women and girls in the western city of Herat, sparking rare street protests.

The new directive, issued on June 18, states that women must wear a head to toe covering, such as a chador or burqa, whenever they leave their homes, and that “Islamic hijab must be observed with full commitment”.

A woman’s hijab must cover her entire body, must not attract attention, must be a loose fit to hide the shape of her body, and must not be decorated or scented with perfume. It should also not resemble the clothing of men or non-Muslims.

The directive warns that a lack of hijab, particularly where women and men mix, could contribute to the spread of immorality in society.

Since returning to power, the Taliban have issued more than 470 decrees, directives and orders. About 80 of these have specifically targeted women and girls, depriving them of their fundamental rights and freedoms.