In a recent Eid al-Fitr sermon, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada declared the rejection of Western laws in favor of a strict sharia-based legal system, effectively ending democracy in Afghanistan. This interpretation of sharia has resulted in severe restrictions on Afghan women and girls, barring them from education, employment, and public life. Akhundzada’s pronouncements, delivered in Kandahar, solidify the Taliban’s isolation internationally, despite some diplomatic ties with select nations. Despite internal dissent regarding the leadership’s approach, the Taliban regime remains firmly entrenched.
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A Shariah court in Indonesia recently sentenced two men to up to 85 lashes each for engaging in homosexual acts. This harsh punishment highlights the stark reality of how religious law can be wielded to inflict severe physical pain and suffering. The sheer number of lashes—a potential death sentence in itself—speaks volumes about the severity and brutality of the ruling, triggering outrage and condemnation from many who see it as a violation of basic human rights.
The outrage extends beyond the immediate impact on the victims. Many commentators express disgust and incredulity at the idea that anyone would care so deeply about the private lives of others that they’d wish them physical harm, let alone inflict it through a state-sanctioned process.… Continue reading
Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, a senior Taliban official, publicly urged the leadership to reopen schools for Afghan girls, arguing that the current restrictions violate Islamic Sharia law and unjustly affect half the population. He highlighted the historical precedent of women’s education during the Prophet Muhammad’s time. This rebuke comes amid international condemnation of the Taliban’s policies on women’s education and rights, which have stalled the possibility of international recognition for the group. Stanekzai’s statement represents a significant internal challenge to the supreme leader’s decision to keep schools closed.
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Over 5,000 street children in Kano, Nigeria, are being evacuated due to economic hardship and security concerns. The Hisbah, Kano’s Islamic Sharia police, are conducting raids to relocate these children, many of whom are from broken homes or almajiri schools, to a rehabilitation camp. This initiative aims to provide psychosocial support, education, or vocational training before repatriation or reintegration into society. However, past similar efforts have proven unsuccessful, with children repeatedly returning to the streets. The current approach emphasizes rehabilitation prior to release, hoping to achieve lasting change.
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Despite Afghanistan’s geographical distance from Syria, the Taliban express significant support for Syrian rebels, driven by shared extremist Sunni ideology and a desire for the implementation of Sharia law in Syria mirroring their own governance. Although no official statement has been released, social media activity reveals considerable Taliban sympathy for the rebel cause. This support stems from perceived ideological kinship between the Taliban and Syrian jihadist groups. A senior Taliban official confirmed this, highlighting the hope for a Syria governed under Sharia law.
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The recent Taliban edict to resume stoning women to death has left me utterly horrified. As much as I try to wrap my head around their justification that they are simply enforcing their interpretation of sharia law, it still feels barbaric and inhumane. The fact that the Taliban’s supreme leader compares their actions to representing Allah and labeling those who oppose them as representing Satan is deeply disturbing. This kind of narrow-minded, extremist thinking is precisely what perpetuates violence and oppression in the name of religion.
The international community’s silence in the face of such heinous acts is equally troubling. By allowing the Taliban to carry out these punishments, we are essentially turning a blind eye to the violation of women’s rights.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood