Taleban enjoin faithful to celebrate Idul Adha

Taleban enjoin faithful to celebrate Idul Adha

KABUL (AP): Helicopter gun ships flew in formation over the war-ravaged capital yesterday as the Moslem faithful gathered for prayer to celebrate the Islamic holy day of Idul Adha.

On the streets the religious police patrolled in pick-up trucks, their loudspeakers blaring instructions: no music, no gambling, no games.

"Idul Adha is for praying and thinking about Sharia," the loudspeaker groaned.

Earlier yesterday 11 women were stopped in the street and publicly beaten for not being properly covered in line with Taleban rules, which require them to wear a burqa which envelops them from head to toe.

"We have to teach them a lesson," said one of the policemen, who didn't want to give his name. The religious police also beat several taxi drivers and four shopkeepers for selling goods to women who were not covered properly.

These punishments have become a daily occurrence in Kabul since the religious police began their patrols several months ago.

Since taking control of Kabul last September, the Taleban religious army has imposed its strict interpretation of Islamic law on the capital's 750,000 people.

At Idul Adha the Moslems faithful worldwide slaughter an animal, usually a goat, to commemorate the sacrifice made by the prophet Abraham more than 2,000 years ago.

But in Kabul times are tough and few people are able to afford a goat, which is selling for 1.5 million Afghanis (roughly US$80) a huge sum for most Afghans who earn less than $5 a month.

"What kind of Idul Adha is this...we have no money to buy anything," said Ghulam Rabbani. "We should be sacrificing a sheep or goat but we have no money."

At the mosques in Kabul, where everyone is required to attend according to Taleban rules, the mullahs or clerics asked people to be patient and suffer the economic hardships with calm.

"You must accept the economic problems and ask help from God," said Mullah Hateel.