AFGHANISTAN: DEVOUT MUSLIMS ATTEND MOSQUE IN MAZAR E SHARIF

Описание: (8 Nov 1996) Arabic/Nat

As the Taliban-- Kabul's new Islamic fundamentalist rulers-- trade bombing runs and rocket fire with the allied army trying to oust them from the capital, Muslims throughout the country watch and wait.

A-P-T-V has this feature on attitudes of devout Muslims in northern Afghanistan towards the Taliban.

We visit a mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif, the town where U-N peace envoy Norbert Holl has come (Thursday) to meet anti-Taliban alliance members.

Friday's prayers at the Hezrat Ali mosque in Mazar.

All is calm and peaceful... for the time being.

The Taliban religious army-- which has taken roughly two-thirds of the country in its bid to impose strict Islamic rule over Afghanistan-- has yet to push into this town, about 180 miles northwest of Kabul.

Some of those at this mosque are refugees who fled to the north, wary of a Taliban government.

SOUNDBITE:
"If peace comes to Kabul and a good government is formed, then I will go back because it is our city."
SUPER CAPTION: Refugee

Others are residents, who feel their religious devotion is adequate and resent being forced to become more orthodox.

SOUNDBITE:
"We are not happy with the troops, their actions are not so good. We are not happy with their actions - they are trying to force us to pray for 24 hours a day."
SUPER CAPTION: Abdullah Hadi Ansari

Since taking control of Kabul, the country's capital, the Taliban has moved swiftly to impose a strict brand of Islam.

This includes stoning adulterers, amputating the hands and feet of thieves and hanging murderers and drug dealers.

Taliban leaders also have banned most women from working and closed schools for girls.

The northern provinces remain in the control of their enemies, who have formed a military alliance against the Taliban.

The alliance say they object to the Taliban version of Islamic rule and are calling for a more moderate approach.

Afghanistan has known little peace since a Soviet-installed communist government was ousted in 1992. Heavily armed factions have been fighting each other since.

Throughout the fighting, the faithful have flocked to mosques like this one, to pray for an end to the violence.

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