From the last sermon of Prophet Mohammed

The Taliban entered Kabul on Sept 24 1996, after executing Najibullah, the last communist president of Afghanistan. They established a strict new government based upon strict Islamic law. During its rise to power, the Taliban received support from Pakistan and from Afghans seeking a return to peace after nearly two decades of war. The victorious Taliban imposed strict restrictions upon the areas they controlled. Women were no longer allowed to attend school or to work, measures that were particularly onerous for the many women widowed during the years of war who were the sole source of support for their children. Penalties such as stoning for adultery and the amputation of limbs for theft were imposed. Women who failed to wear the concealing traditional Afghan village garment called a burqa in public and men who did not grow beards were beaten. Although the Taliban gained control of more than two-thirds of the country, their violations of human rights sparked international criticism, and resistance to their intolerant form of Islamic rule continued in central and northern Afghanistan, where

After the liberation of Afghanistan from the Taliban, women are returning to their rightful place in Afghan society -- the place they and their families choose to have. Schools are preparing to reopen and women are praying again in mosques. The international community stands with Afghanistan and with Afghans in reclaiming their traditions and their rights. However, the lack of security makes it hard for women to exercise true freedom. For example, the blue burkas are still evident on the streets of Kabul – not because they are compulsory but because women are afraid and those who have discarded the garment frequently experience harassment; “Travelling is hazardous following two instances of gang rape of foreign women workers. Threatening leaflets have been distributed at girls’ schools and there has been a bomb outside one of them. Recently 4 girls schools have been burned down in Wardak province.

 October 12, 2000 - Washington warns it will attack Afghanistan if bin-Laden is found

The world outside Afghanistan is ignorant to the happenings there. NGO’s such as the Human Rights Watch were left to help the people suffering under the Taliban’s rule. When the Taliban violently took control the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif in August 1998 the Human Rights Watch called on the UN Security Council to launch investigations into the human rights situation. However, the Taliban refused to allow aid workers, the UN, or foreign journalists to return to Mazar-e Sharif. This is just one example of the UN not being able to fulfil its duties as international peace-keeper.

 May 25, 1997 - Pakistan recognises the Taliban government, followed by Saudi Arabia and

Some topics in this essay:
Uzbek Hazara, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Afghans, Afghanistan Afghans, Rabbani Hekmatyar, UN NGO, Mazar-e Sharif, Muslims Taliban, Rahim Ghafoorzai, Bill Richardson,  ban,  ban women, ban women, kabul , ban women's,  july,  october,  september, human rights, 1998 un,  august,  ban women's,  september 5, hizb-i wahdat taliban, un security council,