Women shopping at the gold market at the Old Town, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sanaa, Yemen, Middle East

Silhouetted woman covered in black robe passes brightly coloured houses in Bo-Kaap, the Malaysian and Muslim area, Cape Town, South Africa, Africa

The Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Hassan II Mosque, the third largest mosque in the world, Casablanca, Morocco, North Africa, Africa

The Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Portrait of a veiled Muslim woman in northern Pakistan, Asia

Portrait of a woman in burka in Afghanistan, Asia

Pilgrims at the shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Street scene in holy city of Varanasi, young muslim woman in white burkha rides in rickshaw, Benares, Northern India

Street scene in holy city of Varanasi, young muslim women in black burkhas ride with their children in rickshaw, Benares, Northern India

Muslim girl rides past untethered bull in the street in Nandi near Varanasi, Benares, Northern India

Street scene in holy city of Varanasi, young muslim women in black burkhas shopping with their children, Benares, Northern India

Young Indian Muslim family ride motorcycle in street scene in city of Varanasi, Benares, Northern India

Street scene in holy city of Varanasi, muslim family ride in rickshaw, Benares, Northern India

Street scene in holy city of Varanasi, young muslim woman in black burkha rides in rickshaw, Benares, Northern India

Street scene in holy city of Varanasi, young muslim woman in coloured burkha rides in rickshaw, Benares, Northern India

Family feeding the famous white pigeons, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Woman pilgrim at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

Lady wearing a blue burqua outside the Friday Mosque (Masjet-e Jam), Herat, Afghanistan, Asia

Woman in a burka, Afghanistan, Asia

Muslim woman with hijab burkha veil covering head and face cycles in the street in city of Varanasi, Benares, Northern India

Displaced families in old soviet Embassy, Kabul, Afghanistan, Asia

Ladies wearing blue burqas outside the Friday Mosque (Masjet-e Jam), Herat, Afghanistan, Asia

Women in burkas, Kabul, Afghanistan, Asia

Women wearing burkas, Afghanistan, Asia

Veiled Muslim woman, Sunday Market, Kashi, China, Asia

Woman wearing a black Islamic burqa, Bariali, Gazipur, Bangladesh, Asia

Young Muslim boy and his mother, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Street scene in holy city of Varanasi, Benares, Northern India

Street boy who sells necklaces for living and ladies in burquas, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

A Pakistani women wearing a burkha on the streets in an Asian area of Burnley, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Muslims including a women in a burkha in a playground in a Muslim area of Blackburn, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Pakistani women wearing the traditional burkha crossing the road in Burnley with the help of a lollipop man, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Hazrat ali mosque in Mazar-i-sharif (afghanistan) where Ali is believed to be burried.

Afghan family living as displaced people in a slum in kabul

Afghan women in a hospital waiting room

medical care to victims of the floods in pakistan

Hazrat ali mosque in Mazar-i-sharif (afghanistan) where Ali is believed to be burried.

Afghan women in a hospital waiting room

entrance of an Afghan hospital

medical care to victims of the floods in pakistan

medical care to victims of the floods in pakistan

Balkh university in Mazar-i-sharif (afghanistan)

Students attending their open air classes at Doodhpathri in Budgam district, Kashmir, India.

Students attending their open air classes at Doodhpathri in Budgam district, Kashmir, India.

Students attending their open air classes at Doodhpathri in Budgam district, Kashmir, India.

Students attending their open air classes at Doodhpathri in Budgam district, Kashmir, India.

Students attending their open air classes at Doodhpathri in Budgam district, Kashmir, India.

Muslim woman dressed in a burka, in traditional area of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Asia

A beautiful model wears a hijab in the middle of the Sahara desert

Woman in Burkha before the great buddhas in Bamyan, Afghanistan, Asia

A young woman prepares to vote for presidential and provincial candidates in national elections, Sultan Razia Girls High School, Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan on August 20, 2009.

Afghan women vote in the presidential and provincial elections in Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan.

Women in burqas flock like doves to the entrance of the main mosque at the Blue Mosque complex, Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh Province, September 23, 2002. Wednesday mornings are reserved for women to come and worship at the mosque.Elaborate tilework and decorated spires adorn the mosque, also known as the Shrine of Hazrat Ali (Hazrat Ali was the son-in-law of the prophet Mohammed), who is believed to be buried here. The shrine, of particular importance for Afghanistan's Shi'ite Muslims, was first built in the 12th century, destroyed by Genghis Khan, and rebuilt in 1481. The current mosque, considered by some to be one of the most beautiful in Central Asia, is a modern restoration.

Tajik women proudly pose with their children, burqa's thrown back, in front of the main entrance to the Blue Mosque, Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh Province. Wednesday mornings are reserved for women to come and worship at the mosque. Elaborate tilework and decorated spires adorn the mosque, also known as the Shrine of Hazrat Ali (Hazrat Ali was the son-in-law of the prophet Mohammed), who is believed to be buried here. The shrine, of particular importance for Afghanistan's Shi'ite Muslims, was first built in the 12th century, destroyed by Genghis Khan, and rebuilt in 1481. The current mosque, considered by some to be one of the most beautiful in Central Asia, is a modern restoration.

Afghan woman wearing a burqa holding a girl along the Kabul-Charikar Road, Parwan Province, Afghanistan

Girl and child follow their mother wearing a burqa on a Kabul street, , Afghanistan

Traditional Muslim children: girls wear abayas, boys wear kofias, traditional hats, on their way to school in the narrow streets of Stone Town, capital of Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Two little girls dressed in colorful dresses and a white hijab run towards the sea. In the late afternoon, children from a small village come to play on the white sand beach and turquoise sea on the east coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Two young girls dressed in white veils and black abaya, the older one threatens the younger one with a stick while the latter is dancing in defiance. In the late afternoon, children from a small village come to play on the white sand beach and turquoise sea on the east coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Colorful little girl returning from school, traditionally Muslim, she must wear the veil, Stone Town, capital of Zanzibar, Tanzania

Young girl dressed in a pink fuchsia dress with ruffles and veil, white hijab. In the late afternoon, children from a small village come to play by the sea, a beach of white sand and turquoise sea on the east coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Young girl wearing white dress with pink ruffles and veil, white hijab. In the late afternoon, children from a small village come to play by the sea. White sand beach and turquoise sea on the east coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Traditional Muslim woman, abaya rolled up over her shoulders, Stone Town, in the capital of Zanzibar, Tanzania

Traditional Muslim girl on her way to school, wearing an abaya, Stone Town, capital of Zanzibar, Tanzania

Woman wearing burka selling perfumes in Oman