Transcript Afghanistan: People, Places, & Politics

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 19952001
US soldiers are
very common &
often interact
with local
people
Woman is part of
work-for-food
program making
land suitable for
farming
Afghan
men at
Friday
prayer
Women cover themselves
to show modesty
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.
Mullah Mohammad Omar
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…
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?