Afghan Brochure

Welcome to...

June 2001

AFGHAN Under Taliban Ruling

issu.com/brittanybell9/docs/afghanbrochure

Once you leave... you may never come back!

A brochure exploring Afghanistan in June 2001 - when Amir got the call from Rahim Kahn...and came back

FEATURING GENERAL INFORMATION

Currency; language; religion; ruling; weather Continued on Page 2

WOMEN/MEN - RULES

Outlining what you can’t do in Afghan, the punishments for these acts and the limited freedom you do have

Inspired by The Kite Runner

Continued on Page 3

PLACES TO GO. HISTORY. WEBSITES.

Where to go and what to see; learn about the Taliban’s history in afghan & websites to visit for more information

The Taliban make a grand entrance in Kabul

Continued on Page 4-7

By Brittany Bell, Individual Media Option F)

The Burqua Perspective

GENERAL INFORMATION!

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Afghanistan's Flag

Islam Prayer Session

CURRENCY

WEATHER Weather forecast for the year 2001

Afghan Afghani (AFN) is the currency of Afghanistan.

1 CAD = 53 AFN

LANGUAGE Dari & Pashto are the 2 official languages.

English is barely spoken, except in Kabul.

RELIGION

HUMIDITY

Salam = Hi Aga = Mister Bachem = My child Inshallah - God Willing Jan - Word of Endearment Namaz - prayer (5 times daily)

Islam is the official religion, practiced by over 99%.

Sunni Islam is majority of the population "Afghanistan for Pashtuns, I say.

Shi’as make up 15% , most are Hazaras That's my vision." (43)

DAILY

HIGH

DEW POINT

TALIBAN RULING As of 1996, Afghan has been under Taliban government Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, a fundamentalist group lead

by Mohammed Omar.

The government is under strict Sharia law, thus women/ men are subject to punishment everyday.

“We passed...a wall with the words ZENDA B A D TA L I B A N ! sprayed in black.” (264)

DAILY

SOURCES | goo.gl/1kNAfG |http://goo.gl/CP1oKI | http://goo.gl/gsF9Gu | http://goo.gl/VGwgRA

RED

MEN/WOMEN

RULES!

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WARNING: AFGHANISTAN - AVOID ALL TRAVEL We advise against all travel to Afghanistan, as it is extremely dangerous and under constant threat of terrorist attacks, kidnapping, high crime and bombings. The country is a war zone, as the number of Taliban killings continue to grow, even in calmer areas of Kabul. Embassies have very limited control and cannot provide safety for citizens.

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Women must always be accompanied by a male outside Women must wear a Burqua, covering them head to toe Women must ride on their segregated, designated “women” bus Windows must be painted black to hide women from public eye No cosmetic use is allowed Ban on women laughing or talking loudly in public Ban on women playing sports or going in a sport centre Ban on women studying at educational institutes (school, uni) Ban on pre-marital sex Women may not wearing bright clothes as it is “enticing” Women may not work outside their home Women may not see male doctors or shopkeepers Women may not ride bicycles or motorcycles Women may not wear wide-pant legs, even with burqua Women may not wash clothes in public place

Kite Runner, Stoning Scene

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Men must wear Islamic cap & attire Men must keep a long beard Boys must wear turbans Men must chant “Allah-o-Akbar”, without cheering at stadiums Non-muslims must stitch a yellow cloth onto clothes so they are distinguishable Youth must abide to their forced haircuts ALL must pray in mosques 5 times daily Ban on KITE FLYING Ban on taking pictures of women Ban on music, movies, TV and videos Ban on use of internet Ban on playing with birds or keeping as a pet Men may not trim or cut their beards

Women’s Dress Code

PUNISHMENTS INCLUDE CHOPPING PAINTED-NAIL FINGERS OFF; PUBLIC STONING FOR ADULTERY; ACID ATTACKS MOST OF THESE PUNISHMENTS RESULT IN DEATH AND PUBLIC-SHAMING SOURCE | http://www.rawa.org/rules.htm | http://travel.gc.ca/destinations/afghanistan

TALIBAN

HISTORY!

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History of the Taliban THE DESTRUCTION OF AFGHAN The Taliban movement began in northern Pakistan, in midst of Afghan’s Soviet invasion. The United States and Saudi Arabia provided funds for group members to support the Afghani Resistance of the Soviet Invasion. In 1980, Leader Zia-ul-haq, grandfather of global Islamic Jihad, aligned himself with fellow powerful men and started Pakistan's ISI training of around 90,000 Afghans (most notably Mohammad Omar.

When Afghanistan’s sovietsupported Government fell in 1992 (due to the Mujahideen forces), many political parties made a peace and power-sharing treaty, the Peshwar Accord that formed the Islamic State of Afghanistan and a temporary government. The

fighting continues as the Taliban gradually become a force to be reckoned with.

In 1994, Pakistan appoints the Taliban to protect a trade, which quickly emerges as one of the strongest factions. Two years later, the Taliban (ruled by Mullah Muhammad Omar) dominate and seize Kabul, exiling President Rabbani to introduce a strict Islamic law. Afterwards, they welcome Osama bin Laden under their safety and protection.

Pa k i s t a n’s re l i g i o u s s ch o o l s continue to send money and equipment to the Taliban.

The country becomes more of a war zone as the years pass, breaking peace ag reements, arresting and executing thousands

The Taliban are down for photo-ops...media isn’t haram if they’re in it!!

of Hazara Shiites. The Taliban continues to hold public stoning, whipping and arrests for those who are accused of breaking their strict laws.

In 2001, the Taliban bans m u s i c , p l a y i n g c a r d s , T V, instruments and board games in the “name of Islam”. Religious minorities must wear different clothing stitching to differentiate themselves from the majority.

They blow up two 2,000 year-old Buddhist statues, despite world’s pleas. On September 11th, they assumably attack on World Trade centre and trigger a decade-long war between the US and Afghanistan. In weeks, over 4,000 Afghans/day attempt to cross into Pakistan, in fear of U.S. response.

...Or was it an inside job?

SOURCE | http://www.infoplease.com/spot/taliban-time-2001.html | http://goo.gl/EfrlYv

SIGHTSEEING

PLACES !

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KABUL

Capital, Afghanistan Largest city: 3 million Once a beautiful city, Kabul turns into a mess of “Rubble and beggars” (257), due to the Soviet Invasion, Mujahedin opposition and Taliban...Spoiler alert! The US bombs Afghan later in 2001, destroying even more of the architect and culture of Kabul.

The city welcomes you with a bold smell of diesel.

In Kabul, you can visit Baba’s house, which was originally “...the most beautiful house in the Wazir Akbar Khan district.” (4). Now, it’s far from the house that Amir remembers, however its memories are still prominent, and it’s still the only pink house in Kabul.

Destroyed Architecture in Kabul

The pomegranate tree that Amir and Hassan carved is now wilted, never to bare fruit again. However, it still shows “Amir and Hassan. The Sultans of Kabul” (277) - a must-see for any mourners of the fallout of Hassan & Amir.

Hotels

Jalalabad

Directions from Jalalabad - Kabul

One of the remaining hotels is near Pashtunistan Square. It has a run-down appearance, charging an “unthinkable price” (277) of $75 for its small rooms.

Some of the hotel’s features include: • No hot running water • A broken toilet • Single bed with a worn mattress • Ragged Blankets • Dried bloodstains • [Broken] Window overlooking the square

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“In the old days, the drive from Jalalabad to Kabul took two hours, maybe a little more. It took Farid and me over four hours to reach Kabul.” (256)

SOURCE | The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini

SIGHTSEEING

ATTRACTIONS!

Perverse men hold a Bacha Bazi (Dancing Boys) Party

Public Stoning Public Stoning is a huge event held at Ghazi Stadium! Before you witness 2 people accused of adultery being stoned to death, you enjoy watching two teams play soccer through a cloud of dust. Just make sure not to cheer, or else you get whipped by Talibs.

During halftime, people are thrown into waist-deep holes as the Taliban attempts to justify their brutality with a prayer and speech about God. Then the Taliban throws stones at the sinners until they are “...a mangled mess of blood and and shredded rags” (284). The dead bodies are thrown into trucks before the soccer players finish their game in the blood-stained field of dirt.

Bacha Bazi

Bacha Bazi (Dancing boys) are young Afghan boys who are bought or kidnapped and trained to dance for older, perverse men who often rape the children. They are seen as an alternative to female stimulation, and not seen as haram by the men who hire them. It was banned by the Taliban, yet the tragedy continues to grow and spread.

You can easily hire dancing boys for a wedding, bachelor party, or just for fun. They are especially common in Kabul, and their ages range from 5-18.

At 19, they are released to reclaim their status as a “man”, but the stigma is difficult to overcome. Some Bachas aspire to grow up and be a master of their own Dancing Boys, triggering a cycle of being abused, to abuse others.

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Public Hanging Stadium

Sohrab In the Kite Runner, Sohrab is a victim of the Bacha Bazi trade, with Assef as his master. Sohrab is taken in and out of his orphanage to dance for Assef, and the experience proves to be traumatizing for him. When he’s at risk for going back to the orphanage again, he attempts suicide and becomes mute. This is the fate of many dancing boys, as a person can only handle so much.

SOURCES | The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini | Dancing Boys Of Afghanistan, 2010

Thanks for Visiting!

Let’s hope this is as close to Afghanistan as you get.

For more information, please visit: http://goo.gl/CP1oKI | http://goo.gl/gsF9Gu | http://goo.gl/VGwgRA http://documentaryheaven.com/thedancing-boys-of-afghanistan/

XOX B R IT T A N C ul m in at in

Y BELL

g A ct iv it y, In di vi du al M ed ia O pt io n F )

AFGHAN BROCHURE June 2001

Issue No. Two