Taliban: Ascent to Power. Gohari, M.J. (1999). 

Oxford: Oxford Logos Society. Price: £16.99.  Paperback. 

Review from the publisher:

For many people in the West, Islam appears to contradict such democratic values as freedom, individualism, and personal choice, perceptions seemingly confirmed by outsiders as 'fundamentalist', 'radical' or 'militant'. Such widespread opinions held by people living in Europe and America frequently are not informed by factual information, but result from overgeneralizations and characterisations of Islamic movements. In this new book relevant to Islamic studies, M J Gohari describes the rise of one such controversial movement widely criticised by the West, The Taliban in Afghanistan. Dr Gohari describes the historical background in Afghanistan, outlines the context for rapid ascent to power of the Taliban, clarifies what the movement stands for and analyses how it affects various groups in Afghan society. He also provides helpful sections on the Taliban Islamic Theology, the impact of the Taliban on Afghanistan's neighbours and what he calls 'the Taliban- UN dilemma'. Gohari concludes with a helpful summery of the life of Bin Ladin, who has been named by the United States as prime suspect in two deadly bombings in Africa. The book provides an objective picture of the Taliban in language that is understandable for both Muslim and non- Muslim readers.