Middle East: AfghanistanCountry Report Last Updated: September 2001 Code: A-1, 2,3 |
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| ( Click here for a list of ICC articles on Afghanistan .) List of Articles Last Updated: November 26, 1999 |
COUNTRY STATISTICS
| Area: 647,500 sq km Capital: Kabul Main Cities: Kandahar, Herat Population: 25,824,882 Population Growth: 3.95% Birth Rate: 41.93 births/ 1000 people Death Rate: 17.02 deaths/ 1000 people Infant Mortality: 140.55 deaths/ 1000 live births Life Expectancy: 47.33 years Religions: Sunni Muslim, Shi?a Muslim |
Languages: Pashtu, Afghan Persion (Dari) Ethnic Groups: Pashtun, Tajik, Uzbek, Hazara Currency: 1 Afghani (AF)= 100 puls Exchange Rate: 4,750 Af=US$1 Total GDP: $20 billion Per Capita PPP: $800 Imports: $150 million Exports: $80 million (Source: CIA World Fact Book 1999) |
Religious Atmosphere: Almost all people in this country are Muslims. They are members of the Sunni (73%) and Shi'ite (27%) branches of Islam. Most of the Christians in the country are expatriates.
Extremist Groups:
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See the Taliban below. |
Government:
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The government of Afghanistan is split between two organizations ? the Taliban, an ultra-conservative Pashtun-dominated group which controls approximately 85% of the country, and the Northern Alliance, a coalition of small anti-Taliban groups. The Northern Alliance is the recognized government by the majority of the world?s nations. Only three countries recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan?s official government. |
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Due to the continued fighting between the above groups, the country currently has no constitution. |
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The Taliban has attempted to conduct its government according to a very strict, very literal interpretation of the Koran. This has manifested itself in the severe oppression of women. Women are forbidden from holding employment outside of the home and all girls? schools have been closed, denying education to the female portion of the population. Women may only travel escorted by a male relative and must wear the burqa, a garment completely covering the body with only a mesh panel for vision. |
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In Taliban-controlled areas, the imposition of strict Shari?a law has led to public executions, amputations, and stonings as punishments for crimes. |
Recent Actions:
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Ongoing ? The Taliban is quickly removing all resistance against Islam. Christian-based NGO?s (non-governmental oraganizations) are closing throughout Afghanistan. Many NGO?s fear their lives from the oppresive Taliban regime. The following NGO?s have been shut down: Shelter Now Afghanistan, International Assistance Mission and Serve, and Partners in Aviation and Communications Technology. The organizations provide relief to the tens of thousands of refugees in the suffering country. The United Nations Food Program expressed concern that Afghanistan will suffer more than ever because of the crack down against Christianity. |
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September 10, 2001 ? The Taliban arrested 35 Afghan IAM workers (International Assistance Mission) when they arrived at the Planning Ministry office in Kabul to receive their salary check. |
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September 9, 2001 ? Twelve foreign journalists covering the trial of the 8 aid workers from Shelter Now Afghanistan were detained in their hotel rooms, and refused exit. The Taliban searched the rooms for cameras, film and videos. Taliban authorities stated the journalists were being punished for taking photographs of the foreign defendants in court. Several of the Afghan interpreters for the journalists were also detained, for failure to halt the journalists. |
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September 7, 2001 ? During a sermon in Kabul?s Pul-e-Khishti mosque, Chief Justice Saqib stated, ?Friendship with infidels is forbidden.? He warned the congregation to keep distance from non-Muslim ?infidels,? and stated ?infidels? were evil and trying to destroy their faith. |
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September 4, 2001 ? A closed-door trial in the Afghan capital Kabul began to try eight foreign aid workers accused of spreading Christianity. Taliban Chief Justice Noor Mohammed Saqib said the trial would be resolved in accordance with Islamic Shari?a Law. The trial of the two Americans, two Australians and four Germans is expected to last several days. |
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August 6, 2001 ? Taliban authorities arrested 24 staff members of Shelter Now International (SNI), including 8 foreigners, for proselytizing Christianity in the city of Kabul. The Taliban soldiers also arrested 65 children working for SNI who are being detained at Darul Tadeeb. SNI provides humanitarian assistance to the Afghans. |
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May 2001 ? The Taliban announced that it is implementing a law requiring all Hindus to identify themselves by wearing yellow and placing yellow flags outside of their homes. Taliban officials claim the law will protect the Hindus by allowing religious police to differentiate them from Muslims who can be punished for not following strict Islamic law. The new edict seems to be aimed solely at Hindus because, according to Taliban officials, there are no Christians and Jews in Afghanistan. |
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January 8, 2001 ? Taliban supreme leader Mullah Mohammed Omar announced that "all countrymen are seriously notified that any Muslim Afghan will be sentenced to death if he accepts Christianity and has converted to this nullified religion or is seen inviting people to Christianity and Judaism as well as propagating and distributing their books." Thus, anyone who converts from Islam to another religion or attempts to convert others will be executed. In addition, it was added that book store owners found guilty of selling books critical of Islam will receive a 5 year jail sentence. |
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Most non-Muslims have fled the country, thus there are few reports of persecution against them. However, the Taliban is known to oppose all religious groups that do not adhere to the Hanifa School of Sunni Islam. Consequently, other Muslim groups, like the Shi?a, are often faced with persecution. |
Prisoners:
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At least 24 people, including 8 foreign nationals, are being held for proselytizing Christianity in Kabul. All were related to the humanitarian aid group Shelter Now International, based in Germany. Another 35 Afghan aid workers were arrested on September 10, as they arrived at the Planning Ministry office in Kabul to receive their salary check. They were employed by IAM (International Assistance Mission), a private volunteer agency recently shut down by the Taliban that employed some 300 Afghans, and 117 professionals from around the world. |
