Amnesty International UK 2014, 'Women in Afghanistan: the back story', viewed

28/03/2015, < http://www.amnesty.org.uk/womens-rights-afghanistanhistory#.VTylTzuUcYc >

Throughout the process of gathering research I located two valuable sources which helped me
develop my background knowledge and gain an understanding of specific content related to my
focus question. The first valuable source, Amnesty International Organisation website, Women in
Afghanistan: the back story, provided extensive background knowledge on the lives of women
before, during and after the Taliban and information on international intervention which not only
links directly to my focus question but also enabled me to have a comprehensive understanding of
the topic. The website refers to the treatment of women and the laws placed against them and
establishes the idea of sharia law being linked to their actions. Through providing this information I
was able to gain a better understanding of the effects of the Taliban so I am able to easily compare
when the Taliban were in control to after their demise in 2001, which effectively answers my focus
question. It also includes comments from individuals such as Horia Mosadiq, who were lived in
Afghanistan at the time and experienced the situation first hand. This source is to some extent
reliable as Amnesty International is a well established organisation aimed at focusing on areas of
injustice such as womens rights. However the specific author of this piece was unidentified and
hence presents me from knowing wether they are reputable or non-reputable and the extent of the
knowledge they obtain regarding the subject. Thus, this source was to a certain extent reliable but
was useful in gathering background knowledge and information regarding my focus question.

Larry, P Goodson n.d., 'Anti Modernist Islam', viewed 26/04/2015, <

https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9g15x848#page-7 >
In addition the second valuable source I obtained, L Goodson, Anti-Modernist Islam:
Understanding Taliban Treatment of Women, 2002, establishes the effects of US intervention on
Afghanistan. Despite this not being directly related to my focus question, many key concepts of life
in Afghanistan for women are extensively addressed through out this document which enables me
to strengthen my response to the focus question. Larry P Goodson first establishes the implications
of Taliban rule through identifying the constrictive laws implemented and how these effected their
lives. The rights and freedoms of women in Afghanistan prior to the Taliban are also discussed
which explicitly relates to my question an provides an in depth understanding of how these strict
changes developed within Afghanistan. To expand on these concepts Larry P Goodson then
highlighted the effect of US involvement in political affairs of Taliban. Through establishing these
effects I was able to understand how the Taliban gained power and what the US did to ignorantly
initially aid the Taliban to do so and how they attempted to make amends. However all international
intervention was unsuccessful which helps develop my understanding of the issue. The treatment
of women during the reign of the Taliban was also mentioned which greatly aids my response.
Larry P Goodson holds the General Dwight D. Eisenhower Chair of National Security at the U.S.
Army War College, where he serves as Professor of Middle East Studies. Prior to this he was an
associate professor in the department of international studies at Bentley College. Thus it is evident
Larry P Goodson holds extensive knowledge regarding women in Afghanistan and possesses
credible authentication ensuring the information gained from this document was reliable. Therefore

this source was significantly useful in developing a thesis for my response and expanding my
background knowledge whilst also being reliable as a result of Larry P Goodson acquiring plausible
verifications.