Taliban's Head of Guidance: Ties are a Sign of Christianity and Must Be Eradicated

A senior Taliban government official claimed that ties are a symbol of the Christian cross and that it is obligatory for Muslims to eradicate them. Mohammad Hashim Shahid Wror, head of the Taliban's Ministry of Invitation and Guidance, criticized Afghans for wearing ties in a speech that was shared on social media on Wednesday, July 26. He stated, "I see on television morning and night that ties are worn around necks. Sometimes when I go to hospitals and workplaces, I see Afghan Muslim engineers and doctors wearing ties." This Taliban official asserted that the definition of a tie in Islam is clear. He said, "A tie is a cross. It is a symbol of the cross... The ruling of Sharia is that it should be eradicated, it should be eliminated. The cross is a symbol of disbelief. The cross represents the martyrdom of Jesus among Christians." Since taking control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban has not imposed regulations on men's clothing, but has issued a decree for women to observe Islamic hijab in public places. Nevertheless, all Taliban leaders and officials wear the same attire, consisting of a shirt, trousers, and a turban. According to the Dari section of Voice of America, while wearing local clothing has become more common in Afghanistan since the Taliban's takeover, and fewer people wear Western clothing, some television presenters and employees still wear ties. Although the head of the Taliban's Ministry of Invitation and Guidance has labeled ties as a symbol of the Christian cross, it is believed that ties became fashionable in the 17th century in France.