Kashmir women given veil ultimatum

Muslim women without a veil face new threats

By Altaf Hussain in Srinagar

A little-known militant group in Indian-administered Kashmir has issued a fresh warning to women to wear a full veil.

Lashkar-e-Jabbar has threatened to take action against any woman found without a veil after 1 September.

Most women don't wear the full burqa

The warning comes despite the fact that other militant groups have condemned the use of force against women who do not conform to Islamic dress code.

Earlier this month, Lashkar-e-Jabbar claimed responsibility for two incidents in which acid was thrown at women in downtown Srinagar who were not wearing a "burqa" or full veil.

This brought strong criticism from religious leaders, including the head of Jamat-I-Islami, Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, who said Islam did not approve of coercion in matters of religion.

Ordinary people felt relieved after prominent militant groups, including the Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toyeba dissociated themselves from the burqa campaign.

Schools guarded

But Lashkar-e-Jabbar appears to be defiant. It says it has evolved a new strategy to enforce the Islamic dress code among women, but has not given details.

Police stepped up patrols after the acid attacks in Srinagar and dozens of armed women officers have been guarding girls' schools and colleges.

On several occasions over the past decade, Muslim militants have used force to bring about changes in society.

Girls wearing tight trousers were shot in the legs. Similar attacks were made on cable television operators.

At one time, the militants also banned the wearing of jeans by men.

But each time the impact of such campaigns has been short-lived.