Afghanistan, Jan. 15 -- An Afghan religious clerk in western Herat province has started a widespread campaign, urging women to wear Islamic Hijab - a large headscarf - and has ordered his followers to punish those who disregard it.

Mujeeb Rahman Ansari, a popular Islamic extremist and a religious clerk in the western Herat province installed dozens of billboards and signboards around the city, targeting Afghan women, urging them to wear Islamic Hijab.

During several public speeches, Ansari called on his followers to apply Sharia rules on anyone who disregards the rules determined by him and his followers and 'not to wait for the government' in such instances.

Abdul Qayoum Rahimi, the governor of Herat was earlier questioned by a local me...