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	~~In the languages spoken in ] and ],~~ '''Taliban''' ~~(also '''Taleban''') means ''those who study the book'' (the ]). Sometimes it~~ is ~~translated "God's Students". It is derived from the ] word for seeker or student, ''talib''. The word is almost exclusively used to refer to~~ a fundamentalist ] movement which ~~ruled~~ the southern~~, mainly~~ ], region of Afghanistan from ] until ]. The Taliban fell after the United States and Great Britain, with support from a large coalition of other governments, attacked Afghanistan with the stated intention of removing them from power.		The '''Taliban''' is a fundamentalist ] movement which originated in the southern ] region of Afghanistan and ruled most of the country from ] until ]. The Taliban fell after the United States and Great Britain, with support from a large coalition of other governments, attacked Afghanistan with the stated intention of removing them from power.

			In the languages spoken in ] and ], ''Taliban'' (also ''Taleban'') means ''those who study the book'' (meaning the ]). Sometimes it is translated as ''God's Students''. It is derived from the ] word for seeker or student, ''talib''.

		⚫	The Taliban practice a severe form of ] movement of Islam, which emphasizes extreme austerity and the subjugation of women. It belongs to the ] tradition of Islam and has similarities to the ] movement practiced in Saudi Arabia.

			After the ] had overthrown the ] occupation forces in 1989, Afghanistan was thrown into a chaos of competing warlords. ] started the Taliban movement in ], intending to restore order and to elevate Islam to its proper place in everyday life. While described as not very charismatic, he was able to defeat several competing factions with his group of Pashtun fighters, and attracted followers. Most Taliban are members of the Pashtun ethnic group of southern Afghanistan, the largest ethnic group in the country.
⚫	The Taliban practice a severe form of ] movement of Islam. ~~This~~ ~~has~~ ~~similarities~~ to the ] ~~branch~~ of Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia.



	The Taliban started as a religious reform movement in response to the chaos of the ] rule after the overthrow of the ] occupation forces in 1989. The movement was founded in ] in ] by young, educated fundamentalist Muslim scholars.



	They decried the inability of the Mujahedeen leaders to keep open fighting and disorder from ruling the day, and received broad support from the people of Afghanistan who were tired of the ongoing wars and unrest. Most Taliban are members of the Pashtun ethnic group of southern Afghanistan, the largest ethnic group.



⚫	After a civil war and with considerable support by the Pakistani intelligence agency I.S.I., the Taliban established a government in 1996 which at its height was recognised by ], the ] and ] and controlled all of Afghanistan apart from small regions in the northeast. ~~The Taliban started out with much popular support, and they~~ were ~~responsible for dismantling the Mujahedeen warlord network~~ ~~across~~ the ~~unstable~~ ~~country~~.

			Initially, the Taliban had some public support. Pakistan, interested in a unified and strong muslim neighbor, sent weapons and money. Many students from eastern Pakistani religious schools were urged by their teachers to join the "holy war" of the Taliban.

		⚫	After a civil war and with considerable support by the Pakistani intelligence agency I.S.I., the Taliban established a government in 1996 which at its height was recognised by ], the ] and ] and controlled all of Afghanistan apart from small regions in the northeast which were held by the ].

	Once in power, the Taliban instituted a particularly harsh and oppressive form of Islamic law, leading to loud complaints from the international community and human rights watch organizations. While the Taliban may have led a reform of government, the replacement government had no governmental experience, and most appointed local leaders had little education according to Western standards and many were barely literate.		Once in power, the Taliban instituted a particularly harsh and oppressive form of Islamic law, leading to loud complaints from the international community and human rights watch organizations. While the Taliban may have led a reform of government, the replacement government had no governmental experience, and most appointed local leaders had little education according to Western standards and many were barely literate.

		⚫	The ] administration of the ] was criticized for overlooking the ] abuses by the Taliban because they were more willing to cooperate in talks, and take action against drugs, than previous ] regimes. This accusation was made in particular by ], a ] congressman from ], who said in 1999: "I believe the administration has maintained this covert goal and kept Congress in the dark about its policy of supporting the Taliban, the most anti-Western, anti-female, anti-human rights regime in the world. It doesn't take a genius to understand that this policy would outrage the American people, especially America's women." These charges were denied by the administration.

			In 1996, the Saudi terrorist ] moved to Afghanistan. He was able to forge an alliance between the Taliban and his ] organization, and it is believed that he exerted considerable influence on the Taliban leaders.

			In March 2001, the Taliban ordered the destruction of two Buddha statues at Bamiyan, one 38m tall and 1800 years old, the other 53m tall and 1500 years old. The act was condemned by ] and many countries around the world.
⚫	~~On the other hand, the~~ ] administration of the ] was criticized for overlooking ~~the~~ the ] abuses by the Taliban because they were more willing to cooperate in talks, and take action against drugs, than previous ] regimes. This accusation was made in particular by ], a ] congressman from ], who said in 1999: "I believe the administration has maintained this covert goal and kept Congress in the dark about its policy of supporting the Taliban, the most anti-Western, anti-female, anti-human rights regime in the world. It doesn't take a genius to understand that this policy would outrage the American people, especially America's women." These charges were denied by the administration.



⚫	The ~~Taliban~~ ~~are~~ ~~believed~~ to ~~be close associates of ].~~ ~~The US~~ and ~~Great Britain, along~~ ~~with~~ a broad coalition of other world governments, initiated military action against Afghanistan ~~with~~ ~~the~~ stated intent of ~~removing~~ the Taliban from power because of the Taliban's refusal to hand over ~~Saudi terrorist ]~~ and in retaliation for the Taliban's aid to him.



	On 22 September 2001, the United Arab Emirates and later Saudi Arabia withdrew their recognition of the Taliban as the legal government of Afghanistan. Observers agree that they wished to distance themselves from the Taliban, but they differ over whether this was a purely principled action or due to pressure from the United States and its allies.		On 22 September 2001, the United Arab Emirates and later Saudi Arabia withdrew their recognition of the Taliban as the legal government of Afghanistan. Observers agree that they wished to distance themselves from the Taliban, but they differ over whether this was a purely principled action or due to pressure from the United States and its allies.

		⚫	The US, aided somewhat by Great Britain and supported by a broad coalition of other world governments, initiated military action against Afghanistan in October 2001 (see ]). The stated intent was to remove the Taliban from power because of the Taliban's refusal to hand over Osama bin Laden and in retaliation for the Taliban's aid to him. The ground war was fought by the ]. The Taliban lost power in December 2001.


	See also ].		See also ].







	Things that are said to have been banned in parts of Afghanistan under the Taliban regime:		Things that are said to have been banned in parts of Afghanistan under the Taliban regime:

	*reading books (other than the ], presumably)		*reading books (other than the ], presumably)

	*cameras		*cameras

	*soccer		*soccer

	*paper bags		*paper bags

	*canaries and other singing birds (decadent)		*canaries and other singing birds (decadent)

	*cinema, television and VCR (decadent, graven image, promotes non-muslim ideas)		*cinema, television and VCR (decadent, graven image, promotes non-muslim ideas)

	*internet (though users can log into uncensored ISP's in Pakistan)		*internet (though users can log into uncensored ISP's in Pakistan)

	*music (except islamic religious music)		*music (except islamic religious music)

	*promotion of non-muslim ideas		*promotion of non-muslim ideas

	*]s (?freedom of movement?)		*]s (?freedom of movement?)

	*women without complete body coverings		*women without complete body coverings

	*women working outside the home (except in health care when kept separate from male workers and patients)		*women working outside the home (except in health care when kept separate from male workers and patients)

	*women going on picnics or to tourist resorts		*women going on picnics or to tourist resorts

	*kite-flying (wastes time better spent studying Quran)		*kite-flying (wastes time better spent studying Quran)

	*converting people from Islam (death penalty for Afgan convert, expulsion for foreign national)		*converting people from Islam (death penalty for Afgan convert, expulsion for foreign national)

	*growing ] poppies. This prohibition has been rewarded by a $43 million increase in drought help by the ] in May 2001		*growing ] poppies. This prohibition has been rewarded by a $43 million increase in drought help by the ] in May 2001



	Practices Reported in Afghanistan:		Practices Reported in Afghanistan:

	*amputating prisoners' body parts ; see ] for this practice in other countries		*amputating prisoners' body parts ; see ] for this practice in other countries

	*public executions , ; (see ] for this practice in other countries)		*public executions , ; (see ] for this practice in other countries)

	**shooting of prostitutes in sport stadium		**shooting of prostitutes in sport stadium

	**shooting of murderers by victim's family, in sport stadium		**shooting of murderers by victim's family, in sport stadium

	**hanging or throat cutting of robbers, in sport stadium		**hanging or throat cutting of robbers, in sport stadium

	**stoning of adulturous couples		**stoning of adulturous couples

	**collapsing a wall over homosexuals		**collapsing a wall over homosexuals

	*recently destroying ancient ] statues		*recently destroying ancient ] statues

	*use of torture to obtain confession; no provision for legal counsel if arrested		*use of torture to obtain confession; no provision for legal counsel if arrested

	*In a move reminiscent of the requirement that Jews wear the Yellow Star of David in Nazi Germany, on May 22, 2001, the Taliban issued an order that Hindus and other non-Muslims must wear a yellow identity symbol . This policy was quickly dropped in June of the same year, after pressure from ], although Hindus were still required to carry a special identification card.		*In a move reminiscent of the requirement that Jews wear the Yellow Star of David in Nazi Germany, on May 22, 2001, the Taliban issued an order that Hindus and other non-Muslims must wear a yellow identity symbol . This policy was quickly dropped in June of the same year, after pressure from ], although Hindus were still required to carry a special identification card.

	*men are beaten or jailed for having beards of insufficient length		*men are beaten or jailed for having beards of insufficient length

	*women are not permitted to wear white socks or shoes, nor to wear shoes that make noise when walking		*women are not permitted to wear white socks or shoes, nor to wear shoes that make noise when walking

	*women suffer physical punishment if showing face in public		*women suffer physical punishment if showing face in public

	*houses with women present must have windows painted over		*houses with women present must have windows painted over

	*women health care is restricted; women cannot seek medical attention without a male escort		*women health care is restricted; women cannot seek medical attention without a male escort

	*formal schooling for women much reduced. Some girls are still being educated in home schools, especially in the north and east. Education in general is very poor, with little formal schooling available for boys as well.		*formal schooling for women much reduced. Some girls are still being educated in home schools, especially in the north and east. Education in general is very poor, with little formal schooling available for boys as well.

	*women are beaten for going outside without a male relative		*women are beaten for going outside without a male relative



	'''See also:''' ]		'''See also:''' ]



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			]

	/Talk

Revision as of 14:41, 10 February 2002

The Taliban is a fundamentalist Islamist movement which originated in the southern Pashtun region of Afghanistan and ruled most of the country from 1996 until 2001. The Taliban fell after the United States and Great Britain, with support from a large coalition of other governments, attacked Afghanistan with the stated intention of removing them from power.

In the languages spoken in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Taliban (also Taleban) means those who study the book (meaning the Qur'an). Sometimes it is translated as God's Students. It is derived from the Arabic word for seeker or student, talib.

The Taliban practice a severe form of Deobandi movement of Islam, which emphasizes extreme austerity and the subjugation of women. It belongs to the Sunni tradition of Islam and has similarities to the Wahhabi movement practiced in Saudi Arabia.

After the Mujahedeen had overthrown the Soviet occupation forces in 1989, Afghanistan was thrown into a chaos of competing warlords. Mullah Omar started the Taliban movement in 1994, intending to restore order and to elevate Islam to its proper place in everyday life. While described as not very charismatic, he was able to defeat several competing factions with his group of Pashtun fighters, and attracted followers. Most Taliban are members of the Pashtun ethnic group of southern Afghanistan, the largest ethnic group in the country.

Initially, the Taliban had some public support. Pakistan, interested in a unified and strong muslim neighbor, sent weapons and money. Many students from eastern Pakistani religious schools were urged by their teachers to join the "holy war" of the Taliban.

After a civil war and with considerable support by the Pakistani intelligence agency I.S.I., the Taliban established a government in 1996 which at its height was recognised by Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia and controlled all of Afghanistan apart from small regions in the northeast which were held by the Northern Alliance.

Once in power, the Taliban instituted a particularly harsh and oppressive form of Islamic law, leading to loud complaints from the international community and human rights watch organizations. While the Taliban may have led a reform of government, the replacement government had no governmental experience, and most appointed local leaders had little education according to Western standards and many were barely literate.

The Clinton administration of the United States was criticized for overlooking the human rights abuses by the Taliban because they were more willing to cooperate in talks, and take action against drugs, than previous Afghan regimes. This accusation was made in particular by Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican congressman from California, who said in 1999: "I believe the administration has maintained this covert goal and kept Congress in the dark about its policy of supporting the Taliban, the most anti-Western, anti-female, anti-human rights regime in the world. It doesn't take a genius to understand that this policy would outrage the American people, especially America's women." These charges were denied by the administration.

In 1996, the Saudi terrorist Osama bin Laden moved to Afghanistan. He was able to forge an alliance between the Taliban and his Al-Qaeda organization, and it is believed that he exerted considerable influence on the Taliban leaders.

In March 2001, the Taliban ordered the destruction of two Buddha statues at Bamiyan, one 38m tall and 1800 years old, the other 53m tall and 1500 years old. The act was condemned by UNESCO and many countries around the world.

On 22 September 2001, the United Arab Emirates and later Saudi Arabia withdrew their recognition of the Taliban as the legal government of Afghanistan. Observers agree that they wished to distance themselves from the Taliban, but they differ over whether this was a purely principled action or due to pressure from the United States and its allies.

The US, aided somewhat by Great Britain and supported by a broad coalition of other world governments, initiated military action against Afghanistan in October 2001 (see 2001 U.S. Attack on Afghanistan). The stated intent was to remove the Taliban from power because of the Taliban's refusal to hand over Osama bin Laden and in retaliation for the Taliban's aid to him. The ground war was fought by the Northern Alliance. The Taliban lost power in December 2001.