Pakistani Women Banned From Shopping Alone During Ramadan

TEMPO.CO, London - Islamic clerics and tribal elders in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have issued a ban for women to shop alone without a male relative.

The decision was made during a meeting at a mosque in Karak district and announced over its loudspeaker. Most women in Pakistan's tribal northwest cover their heads and bodies.

The step, as reported by BBC on July 20 is 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. For the record, this year’s Ramadan begins in midst of July until midst of August.

One cleric and tribal elder said the ban would be publicized using local mosques' loudspeakers. "We have decided that women will not visit bazaars without a male relative," the cleric, MaulanaMirzaqeem, as quoted telling AFP news agency. "Those who will visit markets without male relatives will be handed over to police," he added.

He added, "They (women) 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.

However, one of the traders 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," said Munwar Khan, the trader.

BBC I ARBA'IYAH SATRIANI