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'Berlin Wall's Lessons For Today'

In an op-ed for "USA Today," Jeffrey Gedmin discusses RFE and the role of free media in societies living under repressive regimes. More
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RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan

The U.S. Congress appropriated funding for broadcasting to Afghanistan in December 2001 as part of an effort to build a peaceful and democratic country, following the U.S.-led ouster of the Taliban regime. Radio Free Afghanistan has since built a substantial audience in Afghanistan, with surveys showing it as the most popular radio station in the country.

Features & Multimedia

'Lipstick Jihad'

Iranian-American Azadeh Moaveni, is the author of the best-selling memoirs "Honeymoon in Tehran" and "Lipstick Jihad." She spoke to RFE/RL correspondent Kristin Deasy about Iran's strict Islamic dress code on one hand, and the banning of Islamic headscarves in Uzbekistan on the other. More

Bans, Burqinis, And 'Bad Hijab'

Islamic female clothing has become as much a political statement as it is a religious statement in many countries. More

Karzai Faces International Pressure To Confront Menace

In the wake of his reelection, President Hamid Karzai is facing intense international pressure to move decisively against the corruption that affects all aspects of life in Afghanistan. But what is the scale of corruption in the country, how does it systematically undermine efforts to establish stability, and what would it take to stem the growing menace? More

In Fear Of The Flu

Public fears of a major outbreak of swine flu are growing in countries from Ukraine to Afghanistan. What is not clear is how many cases are actually the dreaded H1N1 strain, and whether fears of a pandemic are justified. More

In Second Term, Karzai Faces Immense Task

President Hamid Karzai has vowed to form a government that will include all Afghans. But to form a workable government -- one that can deliver security and economic prosperity to Afghans, reconciliation with the Taliban insurgency, and a recalibration of the country's rocky relationship with the international community -- Karzai will have to overcome immense obstacles. More
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Facts & Stats

Map of Afghanistan

Population
32.7 million

Ethnic Groups:
Pashtun 42%
Tajik 27%
Hazara 9%
Uzbek 9%
Aimak 4%
Turkmen 3%
Baloch 2%
Other 4%

Religions:
Sunni Muslim 80%
Shi'a Muslim 19%
Other 1%

Languages:
Dari 50%
Pashto 35%
Turkic languages (primarily
Uzbek & Turkmen) 11%
30 minor languages
(primarily Balochi & Pashai) 4%

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