The chowdry, or burqa — the Saudi, North African, and Central Asian version of the head, face, and body shroud — is a sensory deprivation isolation chamber. It is claustrophobic, may lead to anxiety and depression, and reinforces a woman’s already low self-esteem. It may also lead to vitamin D deficiency diseases such as osteoporosis and heart disease. Sensory deprivation officially constitutes torture and is practiced as such in the world’s prisons.

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