Many may be surprised that a photo of a young woman wearing a knee-length dress has sparked local outrage and global curiosity. But the photographs were taken in Kabul, where there are strict rules for women.The Afghani journalist who took the photos, Hayat Ensafi, said the woman was walking quickly and did not speak to him when he tried to talk to her. He said, "The whole city of Kabul is shocked. I knew I had to catch this special moment because I never saw a woman here walking down the streets like this."
Little is known about the woman or her motivations. Popular theories include that she was making a political statement or that she was distressed and possibly mentally unwell. Some have raised the possibility that she was a prostitute.