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Women 'banned from shopping alone' in northern Pakistan | Women 'banned from shopping alone' in northern Pakistan |
(35 minutes later) | |
Islamic clerics and tribal elders in Pakistan's north-west Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have barred women from shopping without a male relative. | Islamic clerics and tribal elders in Pakistan's north-west Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have barred women from shopping without a male relative. |
The decision was made during a meeting at a mosque in Karak district and announced over its loudspeaker. | The decision was made during a meeting at a mosque in Karak district and announced over its loudspeaker. |
Most women in Pakistan's tribal north-west cover their heads and bodies. | Most women in Pakistan's tribal north-west cover their heads and bodies. |
The step is reportedly aimed at keeping men from being distracted during the holy month of Ramadan. It is not clear whether it will be lifted when it ends. | The step is reportedly aimed at keeping men from being distracted during the holy month of Ramadan. It is not clear whether it will be lifted when it ends. |
The annual period of fasting and prayer this year falls in July. | The annual period of fasting and prayer this year falls in July. |
One cleric and tribal elder said the ban would be publicised using local mosques' loudspeakers. | One cleric and tribal elder said the ban would be publicised using local mosques' loudspeakers. |
"We have decided that women will not visit bazaars without a male relative," the cleric, Maulana Mirzaqeem, was quoted as telling AFP news agency. | "We have decided that women will not visit bazaars without a male relative," the cleric, Maulana Mirzaqeem, was quoted as telling AFP news agency. |
"Those who will visit markets without male relatives will be handed over to police. | "Those who will visit markets without male relatives will be handed over to police. |
"They spread vulgarity and spoil men's fasting in Ramadan." | "They spread vulgarity and spoil men's fasting in Ramadan." |
The clerics have requested police help enforce their ban and called on shopkeepers not to serve unaccompanied women. | The clerics have requested police help enforce their ban and called on shopkeepers not to serve unaccompanied women. |
One told Reuters news agency he feared the ban would be bad for business and the region's reputation. | |
"We never supported this ban and convened a meeting on Wednesday to protest over the clerics' decision," Reuters quoted the trader, Munwar Khan, as saying. |
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