http://nypost.com/2014/12/11/afghan-woman-shocks-onlookers-by-baring-her-legs/ Afghan woman shocks onlookers by baring her legs
By Michael Hechtman and Post Wires
December 11, 2014 | 5:17am
An unidentified woman shocked people by showing a little skin in Afghanistan, usually known for its harsh clothing laws for women.
Here’s the mystery woman who ditched her burqa in Afghanistan and sauntered around Kabul with her legs showing — stunning onlookers and scandalizing the country’s mullahs.
“I was shocked,’’ the man who took the photo, local journalist Hayat Ensafi, told the BBC.
“I know I had to catch this special moment because I never saw a woman here walking down the streets like this.’’
He tried to talk to her, “but she walked very fast and didn’t talk to me at all.’’
He posted the shot on Facebook and it has gone viral.
“The whole city of Kabul is shocked,’’ he told the British network.
Her legs are now as famous in Afghanistan as Kim Kardashian’s butt is in the United States.
Some Facebook commentators saw a political motive.
“It’s her body not yours,” wrote Siddiq. “Salute her courage. We want to see more women come out like that.”
“My body, my right . . . no to forced hijab,” wrote another Afghan woman quoted by the BBC.
Others were less supportive.
“We are living in a Muslim country and we can’t bear such people like she is,” wrote a user named Ahmad.
“We have seen thousands of people talk about it,’’ said the BBC’s Syed Anwar.
“Not only on social media, but also in the streets, people are talking about her, wondering if she is mentally ill or if she is protesting.’’
Afghan women live with a very severe dress code.
“It’s risky for women to walk bare-legged in Kabul,” Anwar said. “At the same time, some people have argued that [dressing like this] can pave the way for Taliban propaganda.”
During the 1960s and ’70s, women’s rights made some progress in Afghanistan. Many still wore veils, but skirts were common.
But the Taliban rolled back women’s rights and now it’s back to the burqa.
The woman’s outfit of a red dress and purple shoes is not likely to set a new fashion trend as long as conservative Muslims continue to rule the country.
