Human Rights in the Middle East: Countries--Afghanistan


Figure 1.--.

Afghanistan is a very conservative Muslim country that has had a history of rule by repressive governments ranging from a secular Communist dictatorship to the stern theocratic Taliban government. The country's isolation in central Asia means that it is almost medeival in cultural terms. The country since the overthrow of the Taliban conducted its first reasonably free, democratic election (2004). Hamid Karzai was elected president. Afghanistan's human rights record is poor, in large measure due to the weakness of the new central government and adeeply conservative Muslim culture. Other problems include a bloody insurgency, cotinuing support for the Taliban, drug traficing, corruption, war lordism, and the economic wreckage of 20 years of civil war. The Afghan Government is attempting to expand its authority from Kabul to provincial centers. Some areas are controlled by war lords (regional commanders) and the Taliban. Insurgents are being sheltered and supprted by Islamicist groups in neighboring Pakistan.

Historical Background

Afganistan in fact has an incredibly interesting history. Many of the major towns were founded by Alexander the Great. Islam was spread to Afghanistan by the Turks who with the Mongols, Persians, and Indian Moguls have ruled the country. The 19th century found Afghanistan as the center of the "Great Game" pitting the Russians in Central Asia with the British in India. Many royal regimes appeared in Afganistan which both welcomed the British and delivered disastrous military defeats. Much of the subsequent history of Afganistan has been the tension betwwen wester reformers andIslmaic fundamentalists. More than one Afgani king has been deposed and killed by the fundamentalists. Nadir Shah established a constitutional monarchy in 1932. Despite efforts by NAZI infiltrators, Afghanistan stayed neutral during World War II. After the war the king was deposed and by the 1970s an incresingly pro-Soviet government communist sought tp modernize the country through often brital measures This was met by increasingly successful resistance from the Muhajedeen. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 to support the beleagered coounist regime. After 10 years of bitter fighting, the Soviets finally withdrew, leaving their Afghani allies to their fate. Afghanistan is still a country in which an armed conflict over power between opposing political factions continues. Afghanistan has in the process been devastated, producing the world’s largest ever single refugee case-load, at times as high as 6.2 million persons. Throughout the following years while a bitter struggle over power between the various muhajedeen groups ensued with the strict fundamentalist Tailaban, until November, 2001 and the American war on terrorism, controling most of the country.

Political System

Afghanistan is a very conservative Muslim country that has had a history of rule by repressive governments ranging from a secular Communist dictatorship to the stern theocratic Taliban government.

Political Rights

The country since the overthrow of the Taliban conducted its first reasonably free, democratic election (2004). Hamid Karzai was elected president. Afghanistan's human rights record is poor, in large measure due to the weakness of the new central government and a deeply conservative Muslim culture.

Economic Rights


Freedom of Expression


Women's Rights


Minority Rights


Religious Freedom

The country's isolation in central Asia means that it is almost medeival in cultural terms.

Personal Conduct and Privacy


Corruption


Security Forces


Judicial System


Insurgency

Other problems include a bloody insurgency, cotinuing support for the Tliban, drug traficing, corruption, war lordism, and the economic wreckage of 20 years of civil war. The Afghan Government is attempting to expand its authority from Kabul to provincial centers. Some areas are controlled by war lords (regional commanders) and the Taliban. Insurgents are being sheltered and supprted by Islamicist groups in neighboring Pakistan. Young Afghanis are being radicalized by Islamic madrassas in Pakistan. One such young man returned to his ome in southern Afghanistan resolved to carry out a suicide bomb attack. When his mother found the bomb, a struggle ensued in the famiy home and the bomb was triggered. The son, moher, and three siblings were killed in the explosion. ["Afghan mother ...".]

Terrorism

Taliban insurgents hanged a 15-year old boy because they found him with U.S. currency in his pocket. After hanging the boy they stuffed five $1 bills in his mouth to warn others (October 2007). ["Afgahistan," WP, October 2, 2007.]

Education


Sex Issues


Military Service


Sources

"Afghan mother, children killed in ttampt to block bombing," Washingtom Post (October 16, 2007), p. A14.

"Afgahistan," Washington Post (October 2, 2007), p. A16.








HBC








Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to Main Middle-East human rights country page]
[Return to Main Middle-East human rights page]
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Images] [Registration] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]




Created: 10:31 PM 10/17/2007
Last updated: 10:31 PM 10/17/2007