Afghanistan:

People, Places, & Politics

Notes & Photos taken from PBS & ABC-Clio

Data Overview• Capital: Kabul• Size: Slightly smaller than TX• Population: 28 million (2011) down

from 31 million in 2006–80% Sunni–19% Shi’a

• GDP per capita: $800–80% in agriculture

Geography• Landlocked trade is

difficult/ expensive

• Mountainous faces earthquakes &

drought

• Extreme temps• 120°F in summer

• -15°F in winter

Geography•Limited water land is overgrazed desertification even harder to farm

•Covered by 5-7 million landmines

The People

• Some of poorest in world try to farm in place faced by drought, famine, & war

• Woman is drying dung to use as home insulation• Boy is carrying a melon across mountainous terrain

16 yr old works in textiles

Schools lack resources, desks, etc. Girls were banned from 1995-2001

US soldiers are very common & often interact with local people

Woman is part of work-for-food program making land suitable for farming

Women cover themselves to show modesty

Afghan men at Friday prayer

Opium• Supplies 90% of

opium in world (illegal- makes heroin)

• Makes up 1/3 of GDP

• Drug lords make millions– Govn’t trying to

eliminate to focus on useful crops

Political History• 1979: Invaded by USSR

– Guerrilla war backed by US• 1989: sign treaty with USSR• 1995/6: Taliban takes control of govn’t

– Strict Islamic law, no women’s rights• 2001: harbored al-Qaida, US bombed &

forced Taliban out• 2004: Hamid Karzai is 1st elected pres.• 2006: Taliban begins resurgence, US

fights

Osama bin Laden

• Lead al-Qaida: militant Islamic terrorist group• Takes credit for 9/11• Harbored by Afghanistan…killed by an American Special

Forces unit in Pakistan. Buried at sea in an unknown location.

Society under the Taliban

• Banned the keeping of pigeons and playing with the birds, describing it as un-Islamic.

• Ban on certain games including kite flying which is "un-Islamic" according to Taliban.

• Anyone who carries objectionable literature will be executed.

• Anyone who converts from Islam to any other religion will be executed.

• Non-Muslim minorities must wear distinct badge or stitch a yellow cloth onto their dress.

• Banned the use of the internet by both ordinary Afghans and foreigners.

Women under the Taliban

• Before the Taliban's takeover, Afghan women were:

• 70% of school teachers

• 50% of civilians in the government workforce

• 60% of teachers at Kabul University

• 50% of students at Kabul University

• 40% of doctors in Kabul

Women under the Taliban

• Complete ban on women's activity outside the home unless accompanied by a mahram (close male relative such as a father, brother or husband).

Women under the Taliban

• Complete ban on women's work outside the home, which also applies to female teachers, engineers and most professionals. Only a few female doctors and nurses are allowed to work in some hospitals in Kabul.

Women under the Taliban

• Whipping, beating and verbal abuse of women not clothed in accordance with Taliban rules, or of women unaccompanied by a mahram.

• Whipping of women in public for having non-covered ankles.

• Ban on women playing sports.• Ban on women riding bicycles or motorcycles.• Ban on women's wearing of brightly colored clothing. • Ban on women washing clothes next to rivers or in a public

place.• Ban on women appearing on the balconies of their

apartments or houses. • Ban on males and females traveling on the same bus. • Ban on the photographing or filming of women.

Women under the Taliban

• Ban on women dealing with male shopkeepers. • Ban on women studying at schools, universities or any

other educational institution. • Requirement that women wear a long veil (Burqa), which

covers them from head to toe.• Public stoning of women accused of having sex outside

marriage. • Ban on women laughing loudly. (No stranger should hear

a woman's voice). • Ban on women wearing high heel shoes, which would

produce sound while walking. (A man must not hear a woman's footsteps.)

Women under the Taliban

• Their foot ornaments must not produce sound. • They must not walk in the middle of streets. • They must not go out of their houses without

their husband's permission. • They must not look at strangers. • They must not perfume themselves. • Women's clothes must not be decorated and

colorful.• Women caught with finger-nail polish will have

their fingers cut off.

The Taliban• Ruled Afghanistan 1996-2001

– Women had no rights or educ.

– No TV, music, games, or sports

• When ousted, went to poorest ppl, warlords, al-Qaida & other extremists to gain support & recruits…

Mullah Mohammad Omar

President Karzai• Elected in 2001*, 2004,

2009– Democratic Islamic Republic

• Multiple assassination attempts

• Main Goals: – Improve infrastructure– Keep Taliban out of power– Control drug lords & trade

“The Price of Going to Class”

• Read NY Times article over life & education in Afghanistan

• In your notes, write a summary describing society for men and women under the

Taliban. Then differentiate life for women in Afghanistan and The United States.

• Has your value of education changed in any way after reading this article? In what

ways?