Taliban tells students to wear turbans

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Afghanistan's students have to worry about more than just their grade point averages if they want to stay in school.

The ruling Taliban movement says all students, including those who go to private schools, must now wear a turban if they want to be educated, the Reuters news agency says.

The order, which was first handed down earlier this year, had required all public school students beyond the third grade to wear a turban, or risk expulsion.

But the regulation now covers private education centers that offer courses such as computing and languages.

They've been told to expel any student arriving at school without the headdress, or face the risk that the religious police will close down their schools, Reuters said.

The news agency reports that many government employees have lost their jobs for failing to wear a turban, which the Taliban say the prophet Mohammad wore in the seventh century.

Stern brand of Islam

The Taliban has imposed its stern brand of Islam since it captured Kabul in 1996.

Men are required to grow beards and cannot trim them. Music, cinema and television are outlawed, along with the use of western-style clothing.

They've even ordered the destruction of images which they consider to be idols, including the ancient statues of the Buddha in Bamiyan in March.

But the group believe they are enforcing Islamic teachings and preserving Afghan traditions.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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