Changes

==History==

==History==

The Taliban started as the one of the armed Afghan factions, known collectively as the "Mujahadeen", or "Holy Warriors", funded by the [[CIA]] during the Afghan conflict against the former Soviet Union.<ref>http://www.isreview.org/issues/20/ahmed_afghanistan.shtml</ref>The Taliban connection to the Mujahadeen weakened following the Soviet withdrawal and Afghan civil war. The majority of the Taliban leadership were born during the brutal Soviet occupation, and educated at Saudi funded Wahhabist madrassas. The majority of Mujadaeen appear to have taken on the jihadist ideology as a unifying tool against the Soviets - nothing more. The Taliban however took on the jihadist ideology as a way of life and subsequently fought a war with the remnants of the communist government and the warlords to gain control of Afghanistan by late 1996. The Taliban rule was positively received by the majority of the population,{{fact}} as despite the brutal application of Sharia law, the rule brought the first stable government known to the region for 40 years.  

The Taliban started as the one of the armed Afghan factions, known collectively as the "Mujahadeen", or "Holy Warriors", funded by the [[CIA]] during the Afghan conflict against the former Soviet Union.<ref>http://www.isreview.org/issues/20/ahmed_afghanistan.shtml</ref>The Taliban connection to the Mujahadeen weakened following the Soviet withdrawal and Afghan civil war. The majority of the Taliban leadership were born during the brutal Soviet occupation, and educated at Saudi funded Wahhabist madrassas. The majority of Mujadaeen appear to have taken on the Jihadist ideology as a unifying tool against the Soviets - nothing more. The Taliban however took on the Jihadist ideology as a way of life and subsequently fought a war with the remnants of the communist government and the warlords to gain control of Afghanistan by late 1996. The Taliban rule was positively received by the majority of the population,{{fact}} as despite the brutal application of Sharia law, the rule brought the first stable government known to the region for 40 years.  

The Taliban had close links to separatist Islamic insurgents in the [[Russian Federation]] province of [[Chechnya]], who waged  [[Chechen Wars|two bloody wars]] in 1994 and 2000 against the Russian government. Chechen fighters solidified the link to their Taliban allies by aiding them in their current struggle against the NATO occupation. Anecdotally, it has been noted that the Chechnyans are valued by the Taliban military commanders, as they have extensive training and experience in the operation of Soviet heavy weapons against high value targets. .<ref>http://muslimvillage.net/story.php?id=370</ref>

The Taliban had close links to separatist Islamic insurgents in the [[Russian Federation]] province of [[Chechnya]], who waged  [[Chechen Wars|two bloody wars]] in 1994 and 2000 against the Russian government. Chechen fighters solidified the link to their Taliban allies by aiding them in their current struggle against the NATO occupation. Anecdotally, it has been noted that the Chechnyans are valued by the Taliban military commanders, as they have extensive training and experience in the operation of Soviet heavy weapons against high value targets. .<ref>http://muslimvillage.net/story.php?id=370</ref>

<small>''See also [[Women under the Taliban]]''</small>

<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 Afganistan being suspended from the 2000 Olympics.  

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.  

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.

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.

== The Taliban and Narcotics ==

== The Taliban and Narcotics ==

According to independant western reporting agencies;the Taliban were strongly against [[drugs]];since the NATO invasion [[heroin]] production in Afghanistan has increased massively and the country is now once again the world's largest producer<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2814861.stm</ref><ref>http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/76421.html</ref>. This has had a backlash within the UK, as drug related crime has spiked since the NATO invasion in 2001, laregely due to the wide availibility of Afghanian heroin flooding the UK. It is unclear if this is coincidental or deliberate.

According to independent western reporting agencies;the Taliban were strongly against [[drugs]];since the NATO invasion [[heroin]] production in Afghanistan has increased massively and the country is now once again the world's largest producer<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2814861.stm</ref><ref>http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/76421.html</ref>. This has had a backlash within the UK, as drug related crime has spiked since the NATO invasion in 2001, largely due to the wide availability of Afghani heroin flooding the UK. It is unclear if this is coincidental or deliberate.

According to the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report:

According to the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report: