The Laws of the Taliban

• The Taliban are a style of government known as a RELIGIOUS DICTATORSHIP.

• People under Taliban rule are not free to choose their own religion or criticise the Taliban.

• The Taliban applied a particularly strict interpretation of Islam.

The Laws of the Taliban

• The Taliban believe that the laws of Islam must be followed strictly.

• They believe that only they have the right to interpret the meaning of the Koran (the Holy Book for Muslems)

The Laws of the Taliban

They were determined to get rid of:

1. Modern Ideas (including most scientific beliefs)

2. More moderate Muslims who believe in religious tolerance.

3. Other religions.

The Laws of the Taliban

The majority of the world’s Muslims do not accept the beliefs of the Taliban

The Laws of the TalibanThe Taliban follow a VERY

strict version of SHARIA.

The Sharia is a traditional interpretation of Islamic law.

The Sharia is also applied in:

1. Saudi Arabia

2. Malaysia

3. Nigeria.

Most countries do not apply Sharia as strictly as the Taliban.

Other countries with Sharia Law

Enforcing the LawThe Taliban enforce the

Sharia (Islamic Law) by:

1. Creating a religious police called the “Department for the Promotion of Virtue and the Suppression of Vice”

Virtue = ‘Good’ behaviour

Vice = “Sinful” behaviour

Enforcing the Law

The Taliban enforce the Sharia (Islamic Law) by:

2. Punishing people who break Sharia. These punishments include public amputations, executions by stoning and public shooting or hanging.

Controlling the media

The Taliban control the media by:

1. Stopping all television broadcasts.

2. Smashing televisions.3. Allowing radios – but

only so they can broadcast prayers and Taliban propaganda.

4. All music was banned.

Why do you think the Taliban want to control the media so strictly?

Laws of the Taliban• Men must grow beards and cut their moustaches.• Laughing, clapping or shouting at outside events is

illegal.• All non-religious books are banned.• Suits and ties are forbidden.• Families are not allowed to take photographs or make

videos.• Display pictures of any living thing (even in textbooks)• You are not allowed to fly kites or own birds as pets.• Muslim families may not listen to music.• All children must have Muslim names.• All non-Muslims (Hindus and Jews) must wear yellow

clothes or carry a yellow cloth.• It is illegal to question the police when they are

punishing an offender.• Theft, adultery and all crimes against religious laws are

punished by public amputation or execution.

The life of Women under the Taliban

Women must wear the burqa at all times.

Women are not allowed to:• Get an education.• Talk to a male unless they

are related to them or married to them.

• Wear nail polish, lipstick or make-up.

• Work.• Travel anywhere without a

male relative.

Hundreds of Afghan girls were forced into marriage

with Taliban soldiers.