In the middle of tourist season, an seperatist group in Kashmir has sought to force women to adhere to a dress code and respect the local culture of the state.
In a statement, the Jamaat-e-Islami said that they wanted foreigners to stop wearing objectionable dresses.
Tourists in the Dal Lake in Kashmir. Reuters
“Some tourists, mostly foreigners, are seen wandering in short mini-skirts and other objectionable dresses openly which is against local ethos and culture,” the group had said in a statement.
“Jamaat also impresses upon the tourism department authorities not to encourage this cultural aggression against Kashmiri Muslims and remain vigilant against those elements who, in the garb of promoting tourism, are in fact promoting vulgarity, alcoholism, drug-traffic and other immoral activities,” the statement reportedly said.
“We are not saying that they should adhere to the Islamic dress code, you are misunderstanding that. We are saying that you should be considerate towards local culture and customs,” Zahid Ali, a spokesperson for the group told CNN IBN.
What has angered some is that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has not made any statement about the diktat.
Tourists have not taken too kindly to it though and some have said that they will not adhere to it.
