Taliban militants (file photo)

8am: Several Shiite citizens in the country have condemned the use of derogatory terms against Shiites by Taliban officials and institutions. They urge the group to be more cautious in their use of language and terminology. They believe that Taliban officials and institutions should use terms that bridge the gap between sects and religions when speaking in public or issuing press statements. They point to the use of the term “reform meeting for Shiites” in a statement from the Taliban Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, and the declaration of Ashura ceremonies as an innovation by the group’s head of Information and Culture in Herat province, noting that such statements are offensive and filled with prejudice, fostering hatred between Shiite followers and other religious groups in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Shiite civil activists consider Shiites a reality of current society in Afghanistan and call on the Taliban to cease actions and statements filled with animosity towards Shiite followers and other religions. Click here to read more (external link).