The Kansas City Star posted an article on Saturday about the Taliban's attempts to reimpose Sharia Law on Afghanistan.
According to the article:
"President Hamid Karzai is under pressure from the Ulema Council of Afghanistan, the religious body composed of the clerics and preachers from across the country. They see the implementation of Sharia (Islamic law) as a way to stop the growing insurgency in the country. They seek bans on some programs run on some private TV channels, and during an intense parliamentary debate this year, many members called to non-Afghan serials aired on those channels un-Islamic.
"Early in August, more than 300 members of the council called on Karzai to revive Islamic punishments such as stoning, amputation and execution for various crimes. Islamic clerics have deep influence in the traditionally conservative Afghan society."
There are a few things in play here. One of the things I learned when I recently attended an information seminar regarding terrorism was the relationship between Sharia Law and democracy. In Islam, democracy must yield to Sharia Law. To support democracy over Sharia Law is in violation of 'true' Islam. The Council wants Sharia Law because it is part of their practice of Islam (also because it puts them in control). They cannot, in the context of their interpretation of Islam, accept democracy as law. The Council is essentially on the same side as the Taliban.
One example of what is happening is cited in the article:
"Mohammed Tariq was looking after his uncle's music shop one recent afternoon when two bearded men with turbans pulled up on a motorcycle to deliver an ominous warning.
""Where is your uncle?" one of the armed men demanded of the 14-year-old boy. "Tell him to shut down this shop. If he doesn't, we will blow it up.""
The owner of the shop cleared the music cassettes from the shelves and stopped selling them.
This is thuggery in the name of religion. There are Afghans who love music and regard it as part of their culture. If they remain free to enjoy music, we may have a hope of bringing peace and freedom to Afghanistan. Otherwise, we are trying to establish stability while our supposed allies are attempting to make sure they rule with an iron fist. It doesn't sound promising.
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