Understanding and embracing the cultural and religious values of Afghan people can cultivate higher levels of understanding concerning their struggles under the reign of the Taliban. We can also assess and the amount of recovery needed, and the amount of recovery that is possible for such a population. Due to these values and beliefs, the people of Afghanistan are able to find personal refuge even though it is not offered in the physical world around them.
After 24 years of nation-wide conflict and displacement, Afghanistan is working to rebuild and reconstruct its government, land and people. There is a significant amount of recovery required before the country can emerge as an organized nation with political success and social stability. People of Afghanistan can use their traditional religious and societal values to help them recover from the devastation they faced under the reign of the Taliban, and unite them once again as an Afghan nation.
The Taliban came to power responding to a need for order among the people. They created this order by establishing laws according to extreme interpretations of the Koran. Their hope was to create an orderly nation that would uphold male-dominance and set an example for the world. However, Taliban rule also introduced excessive cruelty, violence and a lack of civil rights within the country.
Before the Taliban came into existence, the people had their own varieties of social and religious values that made their way of living uniquely Afghan. Even through the many years of conflict, they clung to these values to give them a sense of identity. Unfortunately some of these basic values were put out of practice; they were ruled illegal because they did not maintain the Taliban’s image of what an Islamic nation should be.
Traditional cultural practices encouraged both men and women to maintain high levels of standards, and emphasized the importance of deeply-rooted values. Honor is a value that determines the status of an Afghan family. Levels of respect and honor were determined by loyalty to friends and acquaintances, personal and obligatory fulfillment, respect for women and the elderly, and revulsion at anything showy or flamboyant (Dupree, 2002). Honor was also affected by how a man and a woman upheld rules of social etiquette within the home. Women had the responsibility of raising the children, and teaching them to live according to proper social rules and values. Some of these included: knowing when to speak, and demonstrating appropriate exchanges of greeting to guests—even strangers. Proper relationships between a man and a woman required separate sleeping, working, and entertainment spaces. However, women were still allowed to attend religious ceremonies with the men as long as they worshipped in the separate, designated areas assigned for one another. A woman was ruled over by her husband, but recognized and respected as the nurturer of children. Even though the men ultimately had the final say, women could set forth their own opinions and express them in appropriate manner as long as they would not cause offense, and only speak when called upon. These simple practices of social etiquette held together the relationships between family and friends. When the Taliban altered these principles, they introduced uncertainty and fear into relationships because people had lost their sure knowledge of what was and was not appropriate. Restoring these social standards of etiquette would provide each individual with an understanding of what is and is not socially acceptable behavior; this can help to prevent confusion that can lead to potential disagreements or confrontations, and promote societal unity.
The writing of poetry and other forms of literature were also important elements of Afghan culture before the Taliban took over. Poetry was a treasured form of Afghan literature with which many women chose to express themselves. Often, poems were written about women, and cried out for the right of women to be free individuals. Many works were read at poetry readings called mushaira and festivals such as the Jalalabad mushaira that celebrated orange groves blossoming in spring (Dupree, 2002). Folk songs and tales were also popular forms of entertainment. Plot lines would often unfold the adventures of local heroes or significant historical happenings. Some of the stories were humorous and included jokes. Those that made jokes at appropriate moments were well-liked and socially accepted. Many of the songs and storylines taught children acceptable and proper rules of society. Music was an important element of any occasion. Some melodies provided entertainment for a crowd of listeners, others enabled a mother to provide an atmosphere of security and peace for her children. However, music has been a controversial issue for many centuries in Afghanistan because of the emotional influence it can have over men and women. Although some may question its lawfulness, the Koran raises no objection to music. It is even said that the Prophet Mohammed was known for being entertained by musicians (Dupree, 2002). Unfortunately, due to the uncertainty over the subject, both men and women were banned from listening to any forms of music, and from exposing themselves to certain pieces of literature. Reintroducing these forms of entertainment back into Afghan society would encourage pubic expression; it would allow individuals to express themselves without having to resort to extreme beliefs or behaviors in order to be publicly recognized.
When the Taliban came into existence, many of these precious, unique Afghan values were made illegal and done away with because they were considered improper and unacceptable for a Muslim society. Many of these new laws involved women, restricting their activities, and legally allowing public punishment should they do anything that was considered contrary to the law. Women were no longer able to work outside of the home; only a few were allowed to work in hospitals since women could only be treated by other women. When outside the home, a woman always had to be accompanied by a mahram or close male relative. Women were forbidden to attend school, or study at universities. Eventually, the Taliban transformed any all-girls schools into religious seminaries (RAWA, 1997). Women were required to wear burquas at all times. This thick, heavy garment covers the body from head to toe. The Taliban ruled that burqas could not have color, and had to have a screen over the eyes to shield women’s identities. In addition, women were not allowed to play sports, ride bikes or motorcycles, or gather for festive occasions. They were not even allowed to laugh loudly. Both men and women were not allowed to watch movies or fly kites (RAWA, 1997). Many festivities were also banned from being celebrated because they did not uphold the other laws set forth by the Taliban. The traditional New Year known as Nowroz was banned because it was considered un-Islamic. Labor Day was also done always with because it was considered to be a “communist” holiday (RAWA, 1997). The people were to change anything about them that was considered un-Islamic; their names, clothes, and haircuts were all specified by the Taliban. Disobedience to these laws often resulted in public whippings, stoning and other forms of public harassment. Unfortunately, these are only a few of the many laws set forth by the Taliban to create their pure Islamic society.
After a nation has experienced so much violence and turmoil, one might ask, “What can be done?”. After being deprived of their basic traditions and values there is an overwhelming amount of recovery needed before the nation can exist in order and stability. If Afghanistan is to recover from past tragedies, the reconstruction process must start with the Afghan people. Healing can begin when trust exists between the government and its Afghan citizens. One way to help cultivate this trust is to embrace traditional cultures and values that were put out of practice when the Taliban came to power. During that time, citizens were told of what they could not or were not allowed to do. Now, they can have the chance to remember what they can do: live their daily lives in accordance with precious values and principles that are an inherent part of their culture. Instead of trying to modernize Afghan society in hopes that it will cure the tragedies of the past, recovery efforts should focus on restoring what was taken from the people. The goal is to help restore Afghan honor and identity. Once they learn to take pride in themselves and in their nation, the people of Afghanistan will be much more willing to re-establish their nation and defend its national identity.
Reconstruction and recovery in Afghanistan is entirely possible as long as the people unite under a common purpose. Honoring customary values of Afghan society can promote pride and self-reliance–values that are deeply ingrained in the people. Rebuilding Afghanistan is entirely possible because the people can find refuge in the restoration of their traditional values and culture.
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