UN pooled accounts. Pallets of cash. And a covert cash printing operation. Freedom Center Investigates has a new article on how USAID laundered money to the Taliban. I believe it’s an important article, but I also thought it might be a good idea to have a briefer more visual explainer of how the scheme worked. SIGAR, the […]
Taliban: ICC shouldn’t try to impose ‘particular interpretation of human rights’ and ignore other ‘religious values’
The Taliban leaders are saying in this that what they’re doing in Afghanistan is in accord with Islamic values, and to slap arrest warrants on them for applying Islam is unjustified. No one, however, will dare consider the question of whether or not they really are acting in accord with Islamic values. The implications of […]
Taliban top dog: ‘Islamic values, particularly the law of promoting vice and virtue, must be fully implemented’
Muslim and non-Muslim spokesmen in the West routinely insist that the Taliban don’t implement “Islamic values,” but rather a “strict interpretation” of those values. Yet they never specify what is un-Islamic about the Taliban’s strictness, or how other understandings of Islamic law differ. Why don’t they ever clarify this point? Because the Taliban are actually […]
Afghanistan: Taliban ban windows that overlook neighboring homes, to keep women from being seen
“O prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their veils close around them. That will be better, so that they may be recognized and not molested. Allah is always forgiving, merciful.” (Quran 33:59) “Taliban Leader Bans Windows Overlooking Neighboring Homes to Restrict Women’s Visibility,” Afghan Times, December […]
Deadly battle between Taliban and Pakistan leaves dozens dead
“Pakistan’s military said its forces responded with counterfire that killed more than 15 militants and inflicted significant losses on Taliban fighters,” while the Taliban say that Pakistan “killed 46 people, including women and children.” The Taliban now vow retaliation. The phenomenon of jihadis killing jihadis is over 1,400 years old, as is that of jihadis […]
UN veers close to ‘Islamophobia,’ says Taliban’s ‘strict interpretations of Islamic law’ are harming women
Can the UN explain how the Taliban’s interpretation of Sharia is wrong? Why doesn’t it even try? “Taliban’s pursuit of ‘Islamic vision’ eroding freedoms in Afghanistan: Security Council,” by Vibhu Mishra, UN News, December 12, 2024: The Taliban’s continued imposition of strict interpretations of Islamic law and Afghan culture has resulted in unprecedented restrictions on […]
Taliban congratulate Syrian jihadist rebels, call for Islamic government in Syria
It should be noted that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan endorsed the Taliban and stated that “Turkey has nothing that contradicts their beliefs.” In the current situation in Syria, Turkey is also “the most important outside power supporting the rebel side.” Jihadists are gaining ground, and have Turkey as their key supporter, despite the fact […]
Afghanistan: Taliban arrest a man for homosexuality and then rape him in prison
You might wonder why the Taliban would arrest a man for homosexuality and then rape him. The idea was to humiliate and degrade him. As long as the rapist doesn’t declare he is “gay,” and as long as he marries and has children, all will be well. “‘My whole body was praying for my death’: […]
Afghanistan: Taliban arrest and imprison victim of gang rape
The whole idea of veiling women has to do with removing the source of temptation for men. If men remain tempted and rape a woman, it is her fault for allowing them to be tempted. The responsibility is entirely upon her. Hence prison is a just punishment. The Taliban claim they’re imprisoning women to protect […]
Taliban says of climate conferences: ‘Afghanistan must participate in such conferences in the future’
Jihad Watch reported on Nov. 14 that the Taliban were invited to attend the UN climate conference, but they’re complaining now that they were invited only as “guests,” not as full participants. Now Matiul Haq Khalis, the director general of Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency, says: “Afghanistan must participate in such conferences in the future.” […]