The all-enveloping blue burqa with a face mesh has long been a symbol of the Taliban's oppression of women in Afghanistan. AFP spoke to five women about their experiences of wearing the garment. While some say it is "suffocating," others believe that wearing it allows them to "walk with dignity." A law in August confirmed restrictions imposed on men and women by the religious police. It stipulates that women must cover up when in public but doesn't explicitly mention the burqa. That apparent slight leniency has led some urban woman to shift away from the burqa and opt for the abaya robe, worn with a hijab headscarf and often a face covering as well. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES ARRANGED IN SEQUENCES