Why Do Afghans Fear the Taliban

By Howard Bloom

Why are thousands of Afghans trying to flee Taliban rule? Because of the Taliban’s track record. One of the most chilling track records on the planet.

Hafiz Sadiqulla Hassani, a former member of the Taliban’s secret police, reported that he received the following instructions from his boss, the secret police commandant:

“You must become so notorious for bad things that when you come into an area people will tremble in their sandals. Anyone can do beatings and starve people. I want your unit to find new ways of torture so terrible that the screams will frighten even crows from their nests and if the person survives he will never again have a night’s sleep.”

During their last period in power, from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban stripped women of their jobs and rights, required that they cower in their homes wrapped in black with their windows curtained and painted over, wear no shoes that a man might hear, and possess no reading material outside of pamphlets promoting official religious views.

Ladies of learning and skill who transgressed were beaten with rifle butts in the streets.

Even men were allowed an education in only one subject: the Taliban version of the Koran.