Afganistan
Religion
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Understanding Taliban-led Afghanistan hinges on one realization: their aim isn't governance but the pursuit of Islamic devotion. To them, managing state affairs is secondary, merely a means to ensure sufficient resources to live by the tenets of Islam. Their commitment is starkly evident in their stance on opium. Until last year, Afghanistan was the world's heroin heartland, producing 95% of the global supply and contributing up to 15-20% of Afghanistan's GDP, the Taliban have now banned its cultivation entirely, wiping out a fifth of their countries already miniscule GDP. As of now, the poppy fields have vanished, and the Taliban enforce this prohibition rigorously. It remains to be seen whether economic pressures will force a policy reversal in the next growing season. The impact of their religious adherence is profound and widespread. Western attire is forbidden, replaced by traditional Afghan garb. Music, too, is restricted to Taliban-approved vocal chants without instruments, in line with their interpretation of Islam. Tobacco is banned, and while alcohol has always been illegal, the Taliban's enforcement is notably stringent. The restrictions are most severe for women. They cannot venture outside without a male guardian, and their visibility on the streets varies from nearly non-existent in Kandahar to a scarce presence in Kabul. My interactions were non-existent due to the strict limitations, so my understanding is limited. However, the prohibition of education for girls over 12 is a universally disliked ruling, even among Afghans. The Taliban claim no objection to female education but insist on segregation. With no infrastructure for women-only schooling, they've opted for a blanket ban. Image: Two woman make their way into a Kandahar mosque, where gender segregation dictates separate spaces and entries.
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The Ghazni fort overlooks the city with the name of Allah inscribed prominently above it.
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Two men in prayer before the Blue Mosque in Herat, a moment of faith in a place of beauty.
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Three woman pass under the shadow of the Taliban flag in Bamyan, a region known for a relatively liberal stance compared to the rest of Afghanistan.
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Two Children in the shadow of a mosque encircled by barbed wire, in Kandahar.
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A grave lies within a mosque in Herat, a silent sentinel of Afghanistan’s history.