“I am a woman, hear me roar”! A song written by Helen Reddy in 1972 is not often a phrase chanted by Afghan women. Afghan women's struggle to obtain their rights began very early in history and continues today. Religion and culture have influenced Afghanistan over time. Today in Afghanistan, ninety-nine percent are Muslims (“Religion in Afghanistan – Islam”). Muslim is the term used to define a person who participates in the act of obedience, acceptance or surrender. Therefore, a "Muslim is a person who submits to the will of God, or a follower of Islam" (Manisha) and can be seen in their lifestyle and choice of clothing, the burqa which is a clothing of 'exterior that covers the entire body, except for the eyes and hands, in addition to their religion. beliefs (Bahman). Muslim should be used to identify all people of the Islamic faith, but not the faith itself. The term Islam is used to describe religion or acts done in the name of that religion, but never a person who follows that religion. Islam yields to the will of God and describes religion and cultural ideas. Muslim is a person who participates in the act of submission and describes the followers of the religion of Islam (Manisha). There are very specific rules to follow in Islam. religion that suppresses the rights granted to women. Political unrest has also contributed to the lack of women's rights in Afghanistan. Afghanistan was in the process of modernizing its country when the Taliban took power in 1994 and women's freedoms were drastically curtailed in the name of the Islamic faith. "Under the Taliban, ultra-conservative Islamic ideas combined with misogynism (having or showing hatred and distrust of women) and a patriarchal tribal culture gave rise to many...... middle of paper. .....n-afghanistan-between-modernity-and-tradition> “Difference between Islam and Muslim.” Difference between similar terms and objects. Internet. March 10, 2011. <http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-islam-and-muslim>.Johnson, Chris and Jolyon Leslie. Afghanistan: the mirage of peace. London: Zed, 2004. Print “Mohammad and Islam”. Angelfire: Welcome to Angelfire. Internet. March 10, 2011. “Religion in Afghanistan – Islam.” Agnosticism/Atheism – Skepticism and atheism for atheists and agnostics. Internet. March 10, 2011. “Women’s Human Rights Resources – Women in Afghanistan.” Bora Laskin Law Library, University of Toronto Faculty of Law. October 27, 2004. The web. February 8. 2011. .