The Complex Relationship: Afghanistan And The Quran's Guidance

Afghanistan is an Islamic country, with approximately 99.7% of the population being Muslim. The majority of Afghans are Sunni Muslims, with around 90% practising Sunni Hanafi Islam, and the remaining 10% practising Shia Islam. Islam was introduced to Afghanistan following the Arab Islamic conquest of the country from the 7th to the 10th centuries, and it gradually replaced Zoroastrianism and Buddhism as the dominant religion.

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the country has been declared an Islamic Emirate, governed by Sharia law. The Taliban's interpretation of Islamic law is based on the Deobandi strand of Hanafi jurisprudence, and the group has imposed strict rules on the population, particularly impacting women's rights and freedoms.

The Taliban's interpretation of the Quran

During their previous rule from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban enforced a strict interpretation of Sharia law, which included harsh punishments such as public stonings, whippings, and hangings. They also banned music and musical instruments, with the exception of a specific type of frame drum called the daf. The Taliban cut off the hands of thieves and stoned people accused of adultery. In addition, they committed massacres, denied UN food supplies, and conducted a policy of scorched earth, burning vast areas of fertile land and destroying homes.

Under the Taliban's interpretation of Sharia law, women were effectively put under house arrest. They were barred from work and education, forced to wear burqas, and required to be chaperoned by a male relative if they wanted to leave their homes. High-heeled shoes were banned, and windows on the ground and first floors of homes had to be painted over to prevent women from being seen from the outside. Women who disobeyed these rules were subjected to public beatings, humiliation, or even execution.

The Taliban's interpretation of Sharia law also impacts other aspects of life for Afghans. For example, the Taliban has banned paintings, photography, and movies that depict people or other living things. In addition, they have imposed strict dress codes for men.

In their recent return to power, the Taliban has tried to present a more moderate image, promising to respect women's rights and freedoms. However, their actions and decrees since taking power indicate a reversion to their previous harsh interpretation of Sharia law. For instance, they have suspended Afghanistan's constitution and laws protecting women's rights and suspended the Ministry of Women's Affairs and other independent commissions and women's rights organizations. They have also decreed that women must be fully covered from head to toe, including their faces, in public, with the best way to "obey hijab" being to "not leave home without necessity."

Sharia law in Afghanistan

Afghanistan's legal system is a combination of Islamic law, state legislation, and local customary law. Sharia law, which is based on the Quran and the rulings of Islamic scholars, is the supreme law of the land. However, there is complex legislation that stems from different historical periods, and the country's legal reality is characterised by legal pluralism.

Sharia law, or "the way" in Arabic, is a system of religious law drawn from the Koran and the Hadiths—the words and actions of the Prophet Mohammed. It acts as a code of conduct for modern Muslims to adhere to in all areas of life. The application of Sharia law varies among Muslim states and depends on how strictly it is followed. In Afghanistan, it is interpreted according to the Hanafi jurisprudential school.

During the Taliban's previous rule from 1996 to 2001, the group enforced a strict and brutal version of Sharia law. Women's rights were abused, and extreme punishments, such as public stoning, whippings, and hangings, were often carried out in full public view. Women were barred from work and education and were forced to wear burqas, with their thumb tips being cut off for wearing nail varnish. They were also not allowed to leave their homes without a male relative and were forbidden from appearing on radio, TV, or at public gatherings.

Since regaining control of Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban has tried to present itself as a more moderate force. The group has promised to respect women's rights and has said that women will have the right to work and be educated up to the university level "within the framework of Islamic law". However, the Taliban's interpretation of Islamic law remains ambiguous, and many Afghans and experts are sceptical of their promises.

The Taliban's treatment of women

Education

During their first rule, the Taliban mandated that girls could not be educated after the age of eight. Women seeking an education had to attend underground schools and risked execution if caught. Since retaking control in 2021, the Taliban have banned female students from university education and prohibited mixed-gender faculty meetings. They have also banned girls from attending secondary school and studying certain religious subjects, as well as banning boys' and girls' co-education.

Employment

The Taliban have barred women from working in most sectors, including government offices, the justice system, and NGOs. They have also restricted women's ability to own and run certain businesses. In February 2023, the Taliban closed beauty salons and banned women from working in or accessing gyms.

Healthcare

The Taliban have restricted women's access to healthcare, particularly from male doctors, unless they are accompanied by a male chaperone. This has resulted in illnesses remaining untreated. They have also banned contraceptives and birth control medicine.

Public Life

The Taliban have imposed various restrictions on women's public life, including banning them from travelling outside the country without a male relative, entering public parks, public baths, and historic places, and participating in sports. Women are also prohibited from appearing on television or radio shows where the presenters are men.

Clothing and Conduct

The Taliban have mandated that women must wear a burqa or a hijab in public and that they must be accompanied by a male relative when outside the home. They have also imposed restrictions on women's clothing and conduct, including banning high-heeled shoes and loud speech in public.

Enforcement

Violations of the Taliban's prohibitions often result in harsh punishments for women, including flogging, stoning, imprisonment, torture, and even death.

The treatment of women by the Taliban has been characterised as "gender apartheid" by the United Nations, with experts stating that it may amount to "gender persecution" and a "crime against humanity". The situation of women and girls in Afghanistan is currently the worst globally, with their human rights being systematically restricted and their lives suffocated.

The Taliban's treatment of religious minorities

Afghanistan's religious minorities live in fear of the Taliban and brace for persecution. The Hazara community, a mostly Shiite Muslim minority, has been brutally oppressed by the Taliban in the past. During the 1990s, Taliban forces targeted the Shia for mass killings and other serious abuses. Since the Taliban retook power in 2021, the Islamic State affiliate has claimed responsibility for 13 attacks against Hazaras and has been linked to several more, killing and injuring at least 700 people.

The Taliban has also failed to protect other religious minorities from attacks by the Islamic State. Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan have faced religious persecution, discrimination, and violence. The majority of the once-thriving community of thousands fled to India, Europe, and America during the decades of war and the rise of the Taliban in the 1990s. Community leaders estimate that there are only about 550 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus left. In March 2021, gunmen raided a Sikh religious complex in Kabul, killing 25 people. The Islamic State extremist group claimed responsibility and said it was revenge for India's treatment of Kashmiri Muslims.

In addition to the threat of violence, religious minorities in Afghanistan also face discrimination and marginalization by the Taliban. The Taliban has restricted access to worship, civil service positions, and university admissions for members of minority groups. They have also enforced decrees on gender segregation, women's dress and head coverings, men's facial hair, unaccompanied women, and music. These restrictions have had a particularly negative impact on women, making it difficult for them to earn a living and move freely.

The Taliban spokesperson has rejected allegations of religious persecution, claiming that "the religious and civil rights of all minorities in Afghanistan are protected" and that "all our Sunnis, Shiites, Sikhs, and Hindus practice their religion freely." However, members of religious minority groups continue to seek resettlement outside the country, fearing that the Taliban's interpretation of Sharia law will lead to further persecution and harm.

The Taliban's treatment of education

Girls' Education

Since their return to power in 2021, the Taliban have prohibited girls from attending secondary school and receiving higher education. This has been a reversion to their previous rule from 1996-2001, where girls were banned from all educational life.

The Taliban have justified these measures by stating that they are protecting women's rights within an Islamic legal framework. However, their actions have been widely criticised as being contrary to Islamic tradition and Afghan culture.

The Taliban's restrictions on girls' education have also been inconsistent, with some girls being allowed to attend primary school and, in certain cases, travel to government-held areas to attend high schools and universities.

Boys' Education

The Taliban's policies have also negatively impacted boys' education in Afghanistan. The dismissal of female teachers has left many boys without qualified teachers, or with no teachers at all. This has resulted in a decline in educational quality, with boys being taught by unqualified male teachers or community workers.

The Taliban have also increased the use of corporal punishment in schools, with students being beaten and humiliated for minor infractions such as hairstyle and clothing choices.

The curriculum in many schools has also been revised to remove important subjects such as art, sports, English, and civic education, and promote discriminatory values.

Overall Impact

The Taliban's educational policies have led to increased fears about attending school, falling attendance rates, and a loss of hope for the future among students. The economic and humanitarian crises in Afghanistan have further exacerbated these issues, with many boys leaving school to work and support their families.

The Taliban's actions have undermined the entire Afghan education system and risk creating a lost generation.

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