Hindus May Be Labeled in Afghanistan

May 22 -- The Taliban, one of the world's most isolated and controversial regimes, is considering a proposal to make Hindus wear identity labels to separate them from the majority Muslim population in Afghanistan.

The hard-line regime, which enforces its own strict interpretation of Islam, has already faced harsh criticism and international isolation for its treatment of women and, more recently, for its destruction of two giant Buddha statues dating back to the 5th century.

A Taliban Foreign Ministry official told ABCNEWS.com the regime was considering a new policy that would require Afghan Hindus to wear identity tags. It would also require Hindu women to cover their faces in public like other Afghan women instead of just wearing head scarfs.

In a telephone interview from Kabul, the Afghan capital, Sayed Rahmatullah Hashimi said the proposal had not been made into law yet and was still being considered.

Hindus, Jews Outraged

For the policy to be made official, it would have to be approved by the reclusive Taliban supreme leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar.

There were no details on what sort of identification Hindus would have to wear and no date had been set for implementation, Hashimi said.

The proposal has been widely condemned by Hindu groups and Jews, who faced similar marginalization by the Nazis.

Although Muslims form the overwhelming majority of Afghanistan's population, there are several thousand Hindus and a small Sikh minority in Afghanistan. Most minorities are traders who tend to live in close-knit pockets across the Central Asian state.

While Sikh men are easily distinguishable by their unique turbans, Hashimi said that if the new policy was implemented, it would apply to the Sikh community as well.

'It's for Their Security'

Hashimi said the identification of Hindus was a proposal aimed at protecting both Hindu and Muslim Afghans.

"This is being considered because there are a number of items that are illegal for Afghan Muslims — like shaving their beards, watching TV and having idols at home. The same things are allowed for the Hindu community. If the Taliban asks them to wear badges, it is to be on the safe side so that Hindus can be recognized," he said.