<small>''See also [[Women under the Taliban]]''</small>
Taliban rule was characterized by a strict adherence to Islamic law ([[Sharia]]) ;women could not be educated or attend most hospitals, They required all men to grow beards and banned television along with all forms of imagery, music and sports, resulting in Afghanistan being suspended from the 2000 Olympics. They use [[stoning]] to execute men and women convicted of [[adultery]].<ref>Fox News: [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,345088,00.html Taliban Militants Reportedly Stone to Death Pakistani Couple Who Committed Adultery] (April 2, 2008)</ref>
The Taliban were extremely sexist. Women were not allowed to go outside or use public transportation without a male relative, had to wear a [[burqa]] when they did go out, were not allowed to wear makeup or nail polish, and were not allowed to go to school. They were also not allowed to go to most hospitals when needed.