Do you shake hands in Afghanistan?

An Afghan person may place the right hand over the heart and nod in greeting; people of the same gender may also shake hands with the right hand. People do not usually touch those of the opposite gender during greetings, unless the person they are greeting is a close family member.

Do Afghan men shake hands?

Some Afghan men and women may be comfortable shaking hands with the opposite gender. However, men should wait until a woman extends her hand first before extending his own hand for a handshake. Men may greet women by placing their hand over their heart and nodding.

What is considered rude in Afghan culture?

The thumbs-up gesture is considered rude and has the same connotation as raising one's middle finger for traditional Afghans. The “OK” sign with the hand can symbolize the evil eye or something more lewd. Stroking one's beard or pounding a fist into one's hand may signify revenge.

How do Afghanistan people greet each other?

A common verbal greeting is “Salam” or “Salam alaikum”, meaning “Peace be upon you”. People usually place their right hand over their heart when they speak, to show respect and sincerity in the greeting. Greetings are usually prolonged as each person enquires about the other.

What is the social etiquette in Afghanistan?

Men and women are separated in most social visits. Men socialise in one room, and women in another. The female hosts generally bring food and refreshments to the men before leaving and joining the women again. You may be seated on the floor with rugs and cushions.

Key

What is forbidden in Afghanistan?

It is forbidden to seek to convert Muslims to other faiths. You are not allowed to use, or bring into the country narcotics, alcohol or pork products. Photographing government or Taliban buildings, military installations and palaces is not allowed and may lead to detention.

Do men hold hands in Afghanistan?

It is generally acceptable for male friends to show physical affection in public – for example, it is normal to see male friends walking whilst holding each other's hands. However, women are generally not allowed to show any kind of physical affection to anyone unless they are out of the public eye.

Can you have 2 wives in Afghanistan?

The Republic of Afghanistan, which is an Islamic Republic under Sharia Law, allows for polygyny. Afghan men may take up to four wives, as Islam allows for such. A man must treat all of his wives equally; however, it has been reported that these regulations are rarely followed.

Do Afghans drink alcohol?

Currently, the possession and consumption of alcohol is prohibited for Afghan nationals. However, the Afghan government provided a license for various many outlets to distribute alcoholic beverages to foreign journalists and tourists, and black market alcohol consumption is prevalent as well.

Are green eyes common in Afghanistan?

Green eyes are common in Central Europe, Iraq, Iran and Turkey. Gray eyes are common in Europe, the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. There are some medical implications of iris color. People with lighter iris color have a higher prevalence of age-related macular degeneration.

Do Afghans use condoms?

The condom has found its way into conservative Afghanistan over the past six years. The number of users has risen sharply in urban areas, say officials. During Taliban rule, and indeed before that, the subject of condoms and sex was widely considered taboo and rarely discussed in public.

What are girls not allowed to do in Afghanistan?

In November 2022, women were banned from gyms, public baths, public parks, and amusement parks. While Abdul Baqi Haqqani, the Minister for Higher Education until October 2022, was favourable for women to attend Universities, his successor Neda Mohammad Nadeem opposes University education for women.

What does the middle finger mean in Afghanistan?

However, in several countries in West Africa and the Middle East, including Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan, the gesture has the connotation of "up yours!" It's used the same way the middle finger is in the US.

What country is it rude to shake hands?

For instance in some countries and cultures, firm handshakes are seen as rude and a sign of aggression. In places such as China; the Middle East; North, Southern and West Africa; and South America, handshakes are usually lighter and last much longer than in Western countries.

Can Afghan men shave?

“Shaving or trimming a beard is forbidden under a unanimous decision by the religious scholars. Companions of the Prophet Muhammad, their followers, their successors, Mujahideen [holy warriors] and other scholars do not agree on shaving or trimming the beard.

What age do Afghan men get married?

The Afghan Civil Law sets the minimum age for marriage at sixteen for girls and at eighteen for boys. A fifteen-year-old girl may however marry with their father's approval or with a positive ruling from the competent court. Marriage of girls under fifteen is not allowed under any circumstances.

Do Afghans not use toilet paper?

In most cases toilets without a built-in “flush system” are used. On several occasions people in rural areas were found to defecate almost everywhere according to convenience. It is important to observe that particularly the rural population does not know or does not use toilet paper.

Do Afghans wear eyeliner?

Surma is a traditional eye cosmetic used as an eyeliner for infants in Afghanistan, as well as in many other countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Surma has been reported to contain lead and to be a potential source of lead toxicity in children, which can lead to permanent damage to multiple organ systems.

Are there nightclubs in Afghanistan?

The cultural environment in Afghanistan is highly conservative. Religious law forbids the sale or consumption of alcohol throughout the country, so there are no bars or nightclubs.

What age can a girl marry in Afghanistan?

Afghanistan ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1994, which sets a minimum age of marriage of 18. Afghanistan ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in 2003, which obligates states to ensure free and full consent to marriage.

How much does a wife cost in Afghanistan?

According to Mawlwi Muhammad Qasam in Sar Roza district of Paktika, the tribal elders made a new decision in 2010 that bride price should be around 300,000 Pakistani rupees (3,000 US dollars); this was considered a reasonable amount for the people of the area.

At what age are girls married in Afghanistan?

In Afghanistan, 57% of girls are married before they are 19. The most common ages for girls to get married are 15 and 16.

Do girls have rights in Afghanistan?

Under the republic of Mohammad Daoud Khan, women's rights and equality were upheld, as Article 27 of the 1976 Constitution of the Republican State of Afghanistan stated: All the people of Afghanistan, both women and men, without discrimination and privilege, have equal rights and obligations before the law.

Why do Taliban men wear eyeliner?

The Prophet Muhammed used kohl and recommended others to use it because he believed that it was beneficial for the eyes, and it is used by Muslim men today during Ramadan as a sign of devotion.

Why do Afghans hold hands?

"Holding hands is the warmest expression of affection between men," said Samir Khalaf, a sociology professor at American University of Beirut in Lebanon. "It's a sign of solidarity and kinship." In fact, if a man chooses not to touch another in a greeting, it can be interpreted as a sign of distance or disdain.