Modesty, Not Make-Up: Kabul tells anchors to cover up

Afghan government request that female television presenters don headscarves, avoid heavy make-up angered journalists

KABUL: An Afghan government request that female television presenters don headscarves and avoid heavy make-up angered journalists on Tuesday, who said the move was proof authorities expected the Taliban to regain a share of power. In a letter distributed to media, the Ministry of Culture and Information said it had received complaints from members of parliament and families that female news presenters were not observing Islamic and cultural ethics. “All female news presenters must avoid heavy make-up and wear a headscarf,” Minister Sayed Makhdoom Rahin told Reuters by telephone, adding this applied to state and private TV stations.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2012.