In countries where corruption has become “structural,” distorting much of daily life, it can assume very localized forms. A petition by thirty-two imams, deputy imams, and muezzins of certain mosques…

An Afghan man from the Badghis region of northern Afghanistan speaks with Sima Samar (R), the deputy chairperson of the Loya Jirga grand assembly, in Kabul June 15, 2002. (Caren Firouz/ Courtesy Reut…