The new Afghan government has returned to its hard-line stances from the 1990s, instituting public beatings and executions as well further restricting women’s rights.
Tag: Shariah (Islamic Law)
In New Law, Indonesia Criminalizes Sex Outside of Marriage
Parliament also approved a law that criminalizes criticism of the government, delivering a blow to the country’s progressive reputation.
Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Influential Muslim Scholar, Dies at 96
Considered a moderate by some and an extremist by others, he backed political Islam, attacked Al Qaeda and dispensed advice in a TV show viewed by millions.
The Taliban Pressure Women in Afghanistan to Cover Up
The militant group in charge of the country is aggressively enforcing a decree requiring coverings from head to toe and crushing rare public protests against the order.
How Do Saudis Celebrate Christmas? Quietly, but Less So.
“Am I in Saudi Arabia?” Once officially banned, Christmas is coming out of hiding in the kingdom, as its ultra-constrictive religious rules are eased.
Taliban Decree an End to Forced Marriages in Afghanistan
The decree, attributed to the group’s religious leader, calls for more rights for women under Islamic law, but does not say whether women will regain easier access to education or jobs.
Transgender Woman Flees Malaysia After Wearing Hijab
The Islamic authorities want to imprison her for wearing female clothing at a religious event and threatened to put her in a rehabilitation camp where she could “return to the right path.”
Musicians Flee Afghanistan, Fearing Taliban Rule
Dozens of artists and teachers from a prominent music school that promoted girls’ education left the country, but more remain behind. “The mission is not complete,” its founder said.
Threats and Fear Cause Afghan Women’s Protections to Vanish Overnight
As the Taliban advanced, safe houses for women closed, and the staff sheltered girls at home as relatives released from prison threatened to kill them.
What is Shariah Law, And What Does it Mean for Afghan Women?
The Taliban have pledged that women will have rights “within the bounds of Islamic law.” What that means depends on who is interpreting it.