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Jonathan Steele reports from Kandahar, Afghanistan, on various attitudesto homosexuality among Taliban militiamen
What happens to sexually active young men who do not see a female face formonths at a time? In Kandahar, the home of the ultrapunitive Taliban militiaswho have forced all Afghan women to disappear behind the veil, it seemsfeeble not to raise the issue.
The city had a reputation for homosexuality long before the Taliban seizedpower two years ago. In other parts of Afghanistan young Taliban militiamencan be seen holding hands and touching each other with obvious affection.
If women have been so brutally repressed by the Taliban, what about gaymen?
"We have a dilemma on this," admitted Mr Mohammed Hassan, governorof Kandahar and the senior mullah nominated to lead the Taliban in talkswith representatives of the former government.
His comment was an unexpectedly liberal start to the conversation. Was hewavering between tolerance and censure?
"The difficulty is this," the governor said. "One group ofscholars believes you should take these people to the top of the highestbuilding in the city and hurl them to their deaths.
"[Other scholars] recommend you dig a pit near a wall somewhere, putthese people in it, then topple the wall so that they are buried alive."
The mullah must have noticed the effect his answer had. Apparently in mitigation,he said a third group of scholars argued that homosexuals should merelybe put on public display with blackened faces. This was the Taliban's favouritesolution.
"We have punished people in this way in Kandahar," he said. "Homosexualityis a very big crime."
The governor seemed relaxed, in his black turban and with a long, grey shirthanging loosely over pyjama-style trousers. He lolled in an armchair, placingone bare foot on a side table. His other leg had been pulped by shrapnelin his days fighting against the Soviet occupation. In its place a metalrod with a heavy plastic foot rested on the carpet.
We asked why television and cinemas were banned. "Worshipping statueswas forbidden by the Prophet Mohammed, and watching television is the sameas seeing statues," the governor said. "Drawing pictures or lookingat them is sinful.
"People have a right to entertainment, but instead of going to thecinema, they can go to the gardens and see the flowers. Then they will seethe essence of Islam."
The governor admitted to annoyance that no other countries had recognisedthe Taliban, including former supporters.
"Pakistan claims our policies violate human rights. Our opponents saywe are against Wahabism [strict following of the Koran], so Saudi Arabiadoes not support us. America is against us because we don't allow theirfilms."
The governor said the Taliban would carry on regardless. They had no wishto take loans from foreign governments or the World Bank if it meant payinginterest.
A visit to Kandahar destroys one pervasive myth. In Kabul, where the movementtook control in September, people sometimes argue that the Taliban are boundto relax once they have been in power for some time.
The mullahs make the case themselves. "Give us a chance to establishpeace and security throughout Afghanistan, and then we will reconsider thequestion of the veil," is a common official refrain.
Kandahar gives it the lie. There has been no fighting around the city fortwo years, yet no rules have been relaxed. Girls' schools are closed. Womenare still forbidden to work, except for women doctors, but even they arebarred from treating men or talking with male colleagues.
A local Kandahari, an official at one of the United Nations aid agencies,said: "The last Afghan woman we had working here has just moved toPakistan. The Taliban religious director came here to check on our staff,and she was warned to stop."
The official stays only because his dollar salary helps him support twobrothers studying in Pakistan.
"I would leave here if I could. I don't see any future for myself ifthese conditions prevail. The Taliban will not change. I've debated withthem many times. Our future is becoming darker and darker." (GuardianService)
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