Background Information of The Kite Runner

Land

very dry

mainly lugged mountains + barrenplateaus + swept desearts

Water

river rise in the mountains, yet mostly limited amounts of water

rivers never reach the sea

Climate

dryness + great ranges in temperature

South is hotter than North

snows everywhere but South Afghanistan

Food

Aqbeli Palau

rice + chopped and fried carrots + raisins

Afghani Kebab

Games

Kites

common hobby for more than 100 years

outdoor sport

art form

Buzkashi

goat killing

Clothing

cotton + wool

men

coats + hats + real fur + embroidery + "Kamiz Shalwar"

women

long dress + trouser + burqua + black shoes + head scarf

Dance

The Attan

Language

Persian + Pashto are main languages

Music

folk songs + balsads

instruments

Harmonium (piano)

Robab (6 stringed)

Tobla (drum)

Marriage

at age 16 for girls

traditions + rituals of the ancient culture

war + conflict + destroyed + banned all entertainment

known for oriental handmade rugs

Sunni Muslims (85%)

believe that the religious leader should be elected

Shia Muslims (14%)

believe that the leadership should be inherited

Common 5 Pilgrims

praying 5 times a day

fasting during Ramadan

El-Shahada

giving to the poor

pilgramage to Hajj

Clothing for Women

not all muslims were Hijabb whether they are Sunni or Shia

cover everything except hands

wear just head covering

cover everything including face and hands

loose enough to hide shape of the body

thick enough to cover colour of skin

One should not dress in order to gain the admiration sympathy of others.

Pashtuns

largest + most powerful

speak Pashto

40% of population

reside in North to South along the border

Hazaras

famers + shepards

speak Farsi

10% of population

reside in Central Afghanistan where mostly barren dry mountains

Christmas 1979, Russian paratroopers landed in Kabul to support a legitimate government and quell Mujahideen.

December 27, 1979, Amin(the Prime Minister) was replaced by Babrakkamal.

Many Afghan soldiers retreated dto Mujahideen and Kamal government needed 85000 Russian soldiers to stay in power.

1982, Mujahideen controlled 75% of Afghanistan.

1982, UN General Assembly called for withdrawal of Forces.

1988, Soviet Union resigned and called the end of the war.

1989, Russians were gone.

fundamentalist Muslim movent whose militia took control of much of Afghanistan from early 1995, and in 1996 took Kabul and set up a radical Islamic state

provided support for the al Qaeda terrorists

was forcibly removed from power by the U.S. + its allies after the September 11, 2001, attacks

Immediate Relative and Family Sponsored

sponsor--American--'s spouser, children, parent or sibling

Employer Sponsored

certain skilled workers to come to the US by virtue of their abilities alone

Immigrant Investor Process

invest either giant sums of money in companies in the country or to create new companies in rural or economically dpressed area

Diversity Lottery Program

countries with low rates of emigration to the US

Asylum

those who are persecuted due to race, religion or beliefs

Refugee

either from repressive regimes or natural disaster

1965, born in Kabul, Afghanistan

1980, received political asylum in the US

1996, became a physician

2001, began his first novel, The Kite Runner

used to teach his servant in Iran how to read and write

this relationship became the basis of The Kite Runner's central characters

2003, The Kite Runner was published + instant success

2007, A Thousand Splendid Suns was published

the humanitarian themes in his novels are mirrored by his real-life endeavors and accomplishments

currently, as a goodwill envoy to the United Nations Refugee Agency

a grave containing multiple number of human corpses, which may or may not be identified prior to burial

due to a crisis that causes mass graves, propler burial and identification is not possible

created after large number of people die/are killed

buried quickly for sanitaiton reasons

possibly victims of uncontrolled law executions, not having died in combat

targets are specific religious + ethnic + racial groups

2001, Afghanistan Mass Graves

8,000 Taliban fighters were surrendered to the Northern Alliance.

They were loaded into shipping containers on way to Sheberghan prison.

Many suffocated, starved to death or shot.

7,500 bodies were dumped/buried in mass grave in desert.

Universal Human Rights

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security.

Slavery and the slave trade is prohibied in all forms.

No one shall be subjected to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment/punishment.

Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate to the health of oneself. This includes family, foods=, clothing, housing, medical/social services, education.

Everyone has the right to freedom of the press.

Everyone has the right of freedom of expression and beliefs.

Afghanistan has been named the most dangerous country in the world due to poor health care and education, poverty and high levels of violence.

Common Human Rights Abuses in Afghanistan

Women are kidnapped for trafficking and sex and labour.

Children are abused; rights are stripped; used as as child labours and child soldiers.

Prisoners endure torture, humiliating punishments and inhumane treatment. There has been many unfair trials in criminal affairs.

Government takes freedom of media.

Islam is official religion. All law and governance must comparatible with Islamic morality.

Homosexuality is a capital crime.

Limits on freedom of movement; Citizens are not allowed to leave the country at will.

Afghanistan joined the UN in 1946.

United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan

created on March 28, 2002

to support the Government to improve security + governance + economic development

headquarters in Kabul

18 regional + provincial offices across Afghanistan

setting up democratic elections + immunization + education

The International Security Assistance Force

established on December 2001

4 main stages all over Afghanistan

to secure Kabul + surrounding areas from Taliban

55,100 troops

to help curb the illegal Opium growing

Although the UN is aiming to help, Afghanistan many are being attacked.

November 2003, bomb exploded outside of UN offices.

A staff member was murdered.

October 28, 2004, members were kidnapped and not returned until November 23.