Perhaps one of the most disputed symbols of culture, repression and women’s rights can be found in the much-publicized debate over the burqa. Arguably the most infamous burqa is the Afghan chadri, a sheet-like garment used to fully conceal a woman from head to toe beneath a loose fabric, with a lattice patch across the eyes to permit vision. Whether this garment stands as an icon of archaic repression or an expression of Muslim identity, I wanted to share a unique instance in which the anonymity provided by the chadri saved a number of women from violent repercussions while I was recently in Afghanistan. Although still operating within the confines of Taliban culture, this example reflects women’s ironic defiance of the chadri as a cultural norm.
-Michelle Risinger, in an article for the Culture and Human Rights series (Part II)
