----- Original Message ----- From: InfoTimes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, January 26, 2001 4:53 PM Subject: [ArabForum] UnIslamic Taleban Arrests 25 Barbers > > ============================================= > INFORMATION TIMES: http://www.InformationTimes.com > ============================================= > > Anti-Islam Taleban Arrests 25 Barbers For Giving Western-Style > Haircuts > > Banned Taleban Haircut Copied From American Movie > > PHOTO of Afghan barber and his customer > http://www.voanews.com/mediastore/ap_afgan_haircut_150_012501.jp > g > > PHOTO of Hollywood movie star Leonardo DiCaprio in "Titanic" > http://www.voanews.com/mediastore/CLOSELEO.jpg > > PHOTO: This ridiculous kind of burqa (pardah) is not used in > Arab countries. > http://www.voanews.com/mediastore/voa_afghan_beggars_07152000_15 > 0.jpg > > Ayaz Gul > > KABUL, Afghanistan, 25 January 2001 (VOA): Religious police of > the ruling Taleban movement in Afghanistan have jailed more than > two dozen barbers for allegedly propagating a Western-style > haircut, referred to among young men in Kabul as the "Titanic." > > Since taking control of most of the war-ravaged country, the > Taleban has imposed a strict version of Islamic laws that bans > music and enforces dress codes for men and women. > > Hairdressers in Kabul say members of the Taleban religious > police randomly picked up some 25 barbers from various parts of > the city, last week. The arrests followed an official letter by > Taleban Religious Ministry, ordering barbershops to discourage > "anti-Islamic Western hairstyles" among young Afghans or face > punishment. > > A favorite youth hairstyle mimics that of Hollywood film star > Leonardo DiCaprio and is named for his movie hit "Titanic." > > A barber, who would only talk on condition he not be identified, > says he owns a barbershop in the center of the city. He quotes > Taleban officials as saying the hairstyle is not Islamic because > it allows hair on the forehead that could interfere with a > person's ability to say his prayers. > > The barber says he is not accepting any more orders for > "Titanic" hairstyle, for fear of being arrested. He says if a > customer is not happy, he is welcome to leave the shop. > > So far, none of the arrested barbers have been released and > there is no comment available from Taleban authorities. > > Meanwhile, officials of the Taleban's Sports Ministry have > banned punching the face and or head during boxing. They say it > is an un-Islamic practice and it may cause damage to the brain. > The decision is seen as a blow to Afghan boxers, some of whom > have world-level experience. > > Some of Taleban polices have been under fire from human rights > groups. Women in Taleban-controlled areas have to cover > themselves from head to toe. Men cannot trim their beards. The > Taleban also bans most forms of light entertainment in the > war-ravaged country. > > Minor offenses are generally punished by public beatings. But, > despite these restrictions, many young Afghans flout the law > behind closed doors or escape to cinemas in neighboring > Pakistan. > > ================================== > Taleban Invents its Own Anti-Islam Religion > ================================== > > AFGHANISTAN, 25 January 2001 (VOA): In Afghanistan, the > religious police of the dominant Taleban faction have jailed 25 > barbers after accusing them of propagating a Western-style > haircut. > > The hairstyle mimics that of Hollywood movie star Leonardo > DiCaprio and the haircut is named for the movie, Titanic, in > which he starred. Religious police are responsible for imposing > the Taleban's brand of Islamic rule and they say the hairstyle > is offensive. > > According to barbers, police say the hairstyle allows hair in > front of one's eyes, which the Taleban says could interfere with > a person's ability to say his prayers. Muslim prayers are said > while bowing toward Mecca in Saudi Arabia, Islam's holiest site. > > A reporter for VOA says the arrests began last Saturday, and > that so far 25 men have been arrested. It is not clear whether > they will be punished or what the punishment might be. > > [Publisher: Information Times > http://www.InformationTimes.com > America's online daily international newspaper > Chief Editor: Syed Adeeb - Washington, DC, U.S.A. > Copyright © 2001 Information Times. All Rights Reserved.] > > > Arab Forum is the Information Times daily e-mail newsletter. > > Arab Forum (USA) > http://www.egroups.com/messages/ArabForum > > Information Times (USA) > http://www.InformationTimes.com > > Post Messages: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Arab Forum Editor: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Arab Forum Website: > http://www.egroups.com/group/ArabForum > > _______________________________________________ Crashlist website: http://website.lineone.net/~resource_base
