Lady in burqa feeding famous white pigeons whilst child chases them, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh, Afghanistan, Asia

Thousands of semi-precious stones, inset in marble, in a flower pattern decorate the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Middle East

The main prayer hall features the world's largest hand-woven Persian carpet, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Middle East

A shopkeeper demonstrates that not all burqas are identical, Herat, Afghanistan, Asia

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the biggest mosque in the U.A.E. and one of the 10 largest mosques in the world, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Middle East

Muslim woman reading the Koran, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Middle East

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the biggest mosque in the U.A.E. and one of the ten largest mosques in the world, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Middle East

Courtyard of 19th century mansion called Khan-e Boroujerdi, Kashan, Iran, Middle East

A shopkeeper selling burqas, Herat, Afghanistan, Asia

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the biggest mosque in the U.A.E. and one of the 10 largest mosques in the world, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Middle East

Main entrance, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Middle East

Three women in chadors hurrying down typical vaulted alleyway, Yazd, Iran, Middle East

Woman reading an Arabic and English electronic version of The Holy Koran, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Middle East

Veiled woman, Rijal Almaa mountain village, Asir Mountains, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Middle East

Veiled woman, Rijal Almaa mountain village, Asir Mountains, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 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 in burqa feeding famous white pigeons at Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-I-Sharif, 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

Lady pilgrim in blue burqa sitting in doorway at Sufi shrine of Gazargah, Herat, Herat Province, 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 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.

Bazaar in downtown Kunduz city, Afghanistan

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)

Schools reopens after six months.

Schools reopens after six months.

Schools reopens after six months.

Schools reopens after six months.

Schools reopens after six months.

Schools reopens after six months.

Schools reopens after six months.

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

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

Yemeni women, Sana'a, Yemen, Middle East

Children, Al Tawila, Yemen, Middle East

Children, Al Tawila, Yemen, Middle East

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