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Afghan women walk past a mosque in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif. From 1996 until 2001, Afghanistan was ruled by a fundamentalist organization called the Taliban. The Taliban insisted that all people follow Islamic laws, including ones that required women to wear garments that covered them from head to toe when in public.

Words to Understand in This Chapter

burqa— a loose, shapeless garment for women that covers the entire body and is worn in some conservative Muslim countries. polytheism— the worshiping of many gods. Quran— Islam’s holy scriptures. Sharia— Islamic law, based primarily on the Quran and the Sunna, the teachings and practices of the prophet Muhammad.