<span style="color: #222222;">In Afghanistan, women have been banned from appearing in television dramas under new rules imposed by the Taliban Government. Female journalists and presenters have also been ordered to wear headscarves on screen, although the guidelines do not say which type of covering to use.<br />''<br />''The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in mid-August and they are gradually imposing harsh restrictions. The militant group, which took control following the departure of US and allied forces, almost immediately instructed girls and young women to stay home from school.<br />''<br />''During their previous rule in the 1990s, women were barred from education and the workplace.<br />''<br />''The latest set of Taliban guidelines, which have been issued to Afghan television channels, features eight new rules. They include the banning of films considered against the principles of Sharia (Islamic law) and Afghan values, while footage of men exposing intimate parts of the body is prohibited.<br />''<br />''The Taliban has insisted that foreign films promoting foreign cultural values should not be broadcast. Afghan television channels show mostly foreign dramas with lead female characters.<br />''<br />''The Taliban's earlier decision to order girls and young women to stay home from school made Afghanistan the only country in the world to ban half of its population from getting an education.<br />''<br />''The Mayor of the capital, Kabul, also told female municipal employees to stay home unless their jobs could not be filled by a man.</span>