Afghanistan+Today

= __Social Aspects of Afghanistan__ =

__Overview of Social Afghanistan__
 * While population data is somewhat unreliable for Afghanistan, Pashtuns make up the largest ethnic group at 42% of the population, followed by Tajiks (27%), Hazaras (9%), Uzbek (9%), Aimaq, Turkmen, Baluch, and other small groups. [3]


 * Dari (Afghan Farsi) and Pashto are official languages. [3]


 * Afghanistan is an Islamic country. An estimated 80% of the population is Sunni, following the Hanafi school of jurisprudence; the remainder of the population--and primarily the Hazara ethnic group--is predominantly Shi'a. [3]


 * Afghan society is largely based on kinship groups, which follow traditional customs and religious practices, though somewhat less so in urban areas. [3]

__The Rights and Place of Women in Afghanistan__
 * Human trafficking of the female gender, while illegal, is still running strong in Afghanistan. [1]


 * Many women are still encouraged, if not forced, to wear burquas. Although some are allowed certain leniencies toward perhaps foregoing the burqua for a pair of jeans and a long shirt. [5]


 * Afghanistan’s Ulema Council published a controversial declaration that said, "men are fundamental and women are secondary". [5]


 * Bibi Zainab, a 53-years-old woman from Chaparhar district in the Eastern province of Nangarhar, says: "God created women for a specific purpose. Women should stay at home and take care of the household. Our religion ordered men to provide for their wives, and in return doing the chores is a woman's obligation. [5]

__Education__
 * More than 10,000 schools are providing education services to over 7 million children, a more than six-fold enrollment growth since 2001. [3]


 * During the Taliban regime no girls were registered in schools. Today, 37 **% ** of the student population is girls. [3]


 * The number of teachers has increased seven-fold to 142,500, of whom nearly 40,000 are women. [3]

__Connections to Kite Runner__
 * Women are seen as much less than men in Afghanistan, and this is shown in Kite Runner in the magnitude of Soraya's shame after going with a man.
 * Pashtuns hold the majority of power as shown by their numbers, this was also present in Kite Runner.

**Afghanistan Politics**




 * Modern Afghanistan follows a democratic system not much unlike our own. [6] **

**President**: Hamid Karzai was first elected in 2004, then again in 2009. [7]

**The House of the People:** 249 delegates, elected by district. Constitution says at least 64 must be female. Elected by single non-transferable vote. [7]
 * The House of the Elders: ** 102 members, 1/3 elected by district councils, 1/3 elected by provincial councils, 1/3 are nominated by the president. This house mostly serves an advisory role, but it has some veto power. [7]


 * Supreme Court: ** 9 justices appointed by the president to 10-year terms, with approval of the House of People. [7]

**Economy of Afghanistan** > Exchange rates: afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 46 = $1 [4]
 * Currency: Afghani (AFN)
 * Struggles due to years of conflict and war expenses [2]
 * One of the poorest and least developed countries [4]
 * Improved since 2001, (the fall of the Taliban) [2]
 * Landlocked, extremely poor, relies on foreign aide [2]
 * [[image:http://www.afghanbusiness.net/images/afghanistan_lending.gif]]
 * 35% Unemployment rate [4]
 * Agriculture, 12% arable land (able to be farmed. [4]
 * Trade : US and Afghanistan (rugs) [2]
 * Copper mining (China) [4]

**__Discussion Questions__**
 * How do you think the religious struggles of Afghanistan's past have affected its current situations?
 * How do you think the Afghan's feel about the American Involvement in their country?
 * Can Afghanistan improve its current situation by itself?
 * Is Afghanistan better off without the Taliban leadership?
 * Do you think that it is the US's responsibility to try and control the Taliban in Afghanistan?

__**References**__ Mohmand, A. R. (2012, March 21). //What Price for a Woman//. Retrieved from Afghanistan Today: http://www.afghanistan-today.org/article/?id=207 [1] // Cia world factbook //. (2011, November 14). Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/af.html [2] Afghanistan. (n.d.). Retrieved from U.S. Department of State: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5380.htm [3] // 2011 index of economic freedom //. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.heritage.org/index/Country/Afghanistan [4] Tahseen, A. B. (2012, March 18). //"God created women for a specific purpose"//. Retrieved from Afghanistan Today: http://www.afghanistan-today.org/article/?id=204 [5] Afghanistan Government. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2012, from afghanistan.saarctourism.org/government.html [6] (n.d.). The Constitution of Afghanistan. //Afghanistan Online//. Retrieved March 28, 2012, from [] [7]