The Taliban ruled Afghanistan from around 1996 until 2001. They came to power during Afghanistan’s long civil war. Although they managed to hold 90% of the country’s territory, their policies—including their treatment of women and support of terrorists—ostracized them from the world community.

Women had to forcefully wear the burqa, a traditional dress which covers the entire body except for a small screen at the eyes to see out of. Taliban restrictions became more severe after they took control of the capital. In February 1998, the religious police forced all women off of the streets of Kabul and issued new regulations ordering “householders to blacken their windows, so women would not be visible from the outside.” Home schools for girls, which had been allowed to continue, were forbidden and closed down. In June 1998, the Taliban stopped all women from attending general hospitals, they were allowed the use of one all-women hospital in Kabul. There were many reports of Muslim women being beaten by the Taliban for violating their version of the Sharia.

There is only one version of Sharia, the Taliban were very closed minded people and altered the real view of Islam. Since more than half the population of Afghanistan is illiterate and uneducated, they welcomed them with open arms, but little did they know what was ahead of them.