Exclusive cartoons from the Afghan mujahideen- By Matthew Trevithick | Foreign Policy

The Not-So-Funny Papers - By Matthew Trevithick | Foreign Policy

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The Not-So-Funny Papers

Exclusive cartoons from the Afghan mujahideen.

BY MATTHEW TREVITHICK | OCTOBER 26, 2012

Matthew Trevithick

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Above, a cartoon titled "Babrak's School" shows Karmal reading communist literature to a classroom full of irritated students. On the blackboard -- across from the portrait of Vladimir Lenin -- "Islam" and "communism" have been written, with a check mark next to communism and an incorrect mark next to Islam. During the occupation, the Soviets undertook massive literacy campaigns across Afghanistan, and some of the largest protests against their presence were precipitated by efforts to teach women how to read.