The billboards that were installed by Mawlawi Mujibur Rahman Ansari, head of Herat’s Gazargah mosque, which insisted that women wear the hijab, were taken down by the directorate of the pilgrimage in Herat province.

Herat residents praised the work of the directorate.

Previously, Mawlawi Ansari installed billboards insisting that women wear hijabs and called on men to control their women.

“Our banners have been installed in the different parts of the city--in consultation with scholars--and we have installed banners where other banners had been installed earlier,” said Sayed Mohammad Shirzadi, the head of the pilgrimage department in Herat province.

Women's affairs activists praised the tearing- down of the provocative banners.

“The government's answer against extremism made us very joyful and optimistic and shows that we should be optimistic about the future,” said Rezaya Rasooli, Herat resident.

“It is pleasing that the government and pilgrimage directorate of the Islamic republic showed a positive reaction and supported women,” said Ghazal Noorzai.

A local official of Herat said that on the one hand they will prevent extremism, and on the other hand they will implement Islamic law based on the nation's law.

Ghulam Daud Hashimi, deputy governor of Herat, said: “Every center or organization that wants to start activity, it should be registered in the Justice Ministry and have a license and the justice organization should approve it.”

The billboards have sparked reactions in Herat, especially among women's affairs activists who reacted about the billboards.

Herat residents said that the activity of the center that installed billboards challenged the authority of the government.