A threat letter from the Taliban reads: “We have warned you. If we now kill schoolgirls, you shouldn’t be surprised.” In a Taliban-controlled area in northern Afghanistan, civilians are faced with the prospect of going against the Taliban all by themselves should they dare to as Afghan police and military are afraid to go to these places. In reaction to such threats from the Taliban, ‘at least 10 girls’ schools have shut down in northern Afghanistan.’
The Taliban ‘rule’ of the northern Afghanistan region is self-proclaimed as the Islamic Emirate of North Afghanistan. Here, the strictest stipulations of the Muslim Sharia law are enforced. Girls’ school education is an abomination for these radical Islamists, and schoolgirls have found themselves in tragic situations such as having acid thrown at their faces.
The administrators of schools that used to accept girls are afraid to disobey Taliban orders as teachers have been found to be Taliban informants. More schools have begun ceasing operations as well, out of fear of Taliban terrorist tactics.
What is more disconcerting is that the populace in northern Afghanistan has resigned itself to the fact that the Taliban have taken over their region. The Taliban have been the region’s government, and their commanders give the orders that the people have no choice but obey.
Via salon.com
Posted by GSerrano on June 11, 2009 in Critic, Society & Culture · 1 Comment
What? This is very confusing. Where in Northern Afghanistan? Which province(s)? The acid attack was in Southern Afghanistan so it has little relevance to this “article”. Ten schools have closed in all of Northern Afghanistan is not many considering the thousands of schools and the millions of students attending those schools. It is a shame that any are closed, but most schools operate in Taliban held areas. It seems easier to call everyone the Taliban than to identify the actual group. The use of “night letters” to threaten is common, but they are mostly ignored. Most schools operate with community support — now there’s a story!