Ignorant westerner seeking conversation, knowledge, and understanding.

Perhaps this is the wrong sub for this question, but figured it may be a good place to start and maybe anyone here could help. I was reading this article by the Atlantic and came across this paragraph that sparked some questions:

> By the time of my first visit [in the mid 1990's], the Taliban had implemented its interpretation of Sharia, Islamic law. Education for women and girls was forbidden under almost all circumstances, and women (except for select, approved female doctors) were not allowed to work outside of the home or even leave the house without a male guardian. Women who did go out were required to wear burkas, a traditional modesty garment that fits tightly over the head and drapes all the way to the ankles, rendering a woman fully covered and unidentifiable in public. All forms of entertainment were banned for everyone: music, television, socializing between sexes outside the family. Most educated Afghans had already fled to neighboring Pakistan and elsewhere; those who stayed had to change their lives to conform to the dictates of the oppressive regime.

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I have zero exposure to any daily culture of Islam, so all this seem foreign to me. So my questions are:

1. Why is education forbidden for half of the population? Isn't the bedrock of a productive and well-organized society based upon people who can logically and eloquently discuss problems and find solutions?
   
2. What is the purpose of the segregation between both the genders (I have an idea, but would love to hear your educated explanation) and gender-roles (my interpretation of this paragraph being: "women are to be seen and not heard, are to not be allowed to contribute to society in any meaningful way besides ensuring their individual households are running well).
3. Homo Sapiens as a species has a unique desire to create and consume works of beauty and art which are often clumped together as "entertainment." What is the purpose of the suppression of this? This strikes me as possibly dangerous to the happiness/health/wellbeing of the person.
4. When the Taliban first took over, the oppression drove many away. Who stayed, and why? I'm assuming the answer is not as simple as "They were to poor to flee."

Thanks in advance with any answers and insight you can give!

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