Source: Mohammad Enam Wak
WAK Foundation
Email: abdaliwak[at]yahoo.com

Mohammad Enam Wak is the author of the "History of Pashto" section. Hence all credit goes to him and if you have any question he will be pleased to answer them through his email.
 

Religious Despotism

The Ghaznavid tyranny and religious oppression along with the racial segregator policies of the Amavi and Abassid dynasties all together stimulated growth of the Pakhtoon nationalism.

Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi was a fanatic king and a champion of the Persian language. He was a radical follower of the Shafiee doctrine. Under the Ghaznavid dynasty, the fanatic wing of religion became extremely powerful. The court banned the study of sciences, logic, philosophy and other theologies. Non Sunni Muslim sects, ideological branches and political groups, particularly, Mootazela, Ismaillia and Qarmati, were branded as infidels. These infidels were never treated with mercy and were confronted to the harsh punishment and assassination. The court accused opponents with similar allegation of being Qarmati or Ismaillia. As a consequence to encounter the oppressive religious policies and their racial apartheid practice, Arabic and non-Arabic ideological and political groups were born within the territory under their rule.

In the Ghaznavid dynasty in general and particularly under Sultan Mahmood, the court experienced individual and group assassinations; hangings, flaying, dropping people in wells and life imprisonment were common penalties the court carried on a brutal policy both in religious and language basis. People were extremely humiliated. Based on sects or sectarian prejudice the Islamic leadership campaigned that the Shah was as great as God was! And the prince was reaching the level of the Son of God!.