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Muslimedia.com

Muslimedia.com
The strict, Taliban-like code of conduct imposed by al-Qa‘ida in areas under its control has gained the group the ire of the local population. Al-Qa‘ida’s rules not only order women to don the hijab and ban the sale of goods proscribed by the Shari‘ah, such as alcoholic beverages, but also prohibit such mundane activities as playing chess, smoking, visiting internet cafes, and selling newspapers and magazines. Hairdressers have been threatened and attacked, and barber-shops and beauty-salons have been bombed for shaving the beards of their customers and giving them western-style haircuts respectively. Women in these areas have also had to give up driving.

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