What is Shariah? And how have Afghan women fared under the Taliban?

How does the Taliban's implementation of Shariah law differ from others'?

The Taliban, an extremist militant group, has taken over Afghanistan's capital as U.S. troops have withdrawn from much of the country. The group has said it will rule the country based on Shariah, or Islamic law, and many Afghan nationals have said they fear that the Taliban will reimplement the harsh interpretation seen when the group last ruled Afghanistan in the 1990s. The Taliban previously has imposed harsh penalties, including death sentences, for infractions linked to adultery, blasphemy, non-compliance with dress codes, working with the U.S. government and more. Abed Awad, a lawyer and Shariah law expert, said that the Taliban's use of Shariah, or "Islamic law" to describe their legal system has led to a misunderstanding of the religious practice.