Lifestyle choices won’t be forced — but we’ll make people aware of their sins – Taliban Governor

Youssef Wafa, governor of Kandahar, Afghanistan’s second-largest city, says the Taliban will not force their rules on anyone as it relates to lifestyle choices.

Wafa, however, said “scholars” will make people aware if their choices point to “sins”.

, Wafa said this during a meeting with religious scholars, during which he outlined directives on hairstyle, uniform for Taliban fighters, as well as handling of weapons in public.

The Taliban governor’s position was said to be contained in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Rusen, Turkish media organisation, in a tweet, also quoted Wafa as saying while the Taliban will not force people as it relates to lifestyle choices, scholars are expected to create awareness on “sins”.

“We will not force anyone about beard , hair, music, etc., but the scholars should make people aware of their sins,” Wafa reportedly said.

Afghanistan fell to the Taliban, a fundamentalist Islamic group, after the insurgent group seized several of its provinces and sealed its victory with the , the country’s capital.

After the capital city was captured, thousands ran to the airports — amid concerns that Taliban resurgence would lead to the stifling of human rights.

When the Taliban held sway from 1996 to 2001 — and under their Sharia law — men were required to grow beards while the women were made to wear an all-encompassing burqa, covering both their hair and face.

Music was banned to prevent the promotion of vulgarity, while citizens could only listen to religious chants.

Also, women were confined to their homes and only allowed to leave their abode in the company of male relatives, while girls were denied education.

The Taliban also banned television and cinema, and some electronic products were outlawed as un-Islamic.

Severe punishments such as public executions of convicted murderers and adulterers and amputations for those found guilty of theft were also meted out under their interpretation of Sharia law.

However, the Taliban has assured Afghans that they will be safe and secured under their new rule, and that women and girls will be to go to school as well as work.

(The Cable)