Afghanistan International: Mohammad Mohaqiq, leader of the People’s Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan, said the Taliban have stripped the Jaafari jurisprudence of official recognition and imposed widespread pressure on the religious practices of Shia Muslims. In a post on Facebook, Mohaqiq said the measures included insults, beatings of Shia clerics and interference in matters related
DW: An attack on a Shiite place of worship in Herat killed least 11 people. While the Taliban have pledged protection, a sense of structural vulnerability is growing within the Shiite community. “The Taliban’s ultra-conservative Sunni interpretation of Islam labels Shiite Muslims as heretics. This characterization contributes to their vulnerability and increases their exposure to
Afghanistan International: Students at Bamiyan and Kandahar universities told Afghanistan International that the Taliban are using seminars and coordinated campaigns to pressure students to change their religious beliefs. Observers say these measures are part of a broader effort to eliminate religious diversity in Afghanistan. One student at Kandahar University said Taliban officials openly declared Shiites
Amu: Hundreds of people gathered in the western city of Herat on Tuesday to protest a deadly attack on civilians, but Taliban restricted the scale of the demonstrations, according to local sources. The rally followed a shooting on Friday, April 10, in Injil district, where gunmen opened fire on civilians near a shrine, killing at
8am: Sources told Hasht-e-Subh Daily on Saturday, April 11, that the cleric was named “Sheikh Azimi” and had previously been arrested twice by the Taliban. According to sources, the exact reason for his arrest is still unclear, but in the past, he was once arrested for holding a Muharram ceremony and another time for organizing
Afghanistan International: Local sources told Afghanistan International that the Taliban prevented Shia Muslims from holding Eid al-Fitr prayers in some areas of Kabul. According to the sources, most Shia Muslims observed Eid on Saturday, but Taliban forces were deployed at the entrances of Shia mosques, including in western Kabul, to block the prayers. Click here
New Lines Institute: Since the Taliban takeover, Shia-Hazaras have faced escalating violence affecting places of worship, schools, workplaces, and daily life. They are excluded from the Taliban’s government and are subjected to systemic economic marginalization and widespread religious discrimination. Terrorist attacks and mass killings targeting the community have become more commonplace. In the three years
Afghanistan International: The World Organization Against Torture has released a report exposing new and detailed accounts of physical and psychological abuse in Taliban detention centres, citing evidence of systematic torture by the group’s intelligence agency. The report, based on extensive interviews with detainees held between 2021 and 2024, documents severe human rights violations including the
Amu: Taliban have imposed new restrictions on Shiite religious practices in Herat Province during Muharram, the Islamic month of mourning, dismantling mourning tents and removing flags from Shiite neighborhoods, according to local sources and residents. Witnesses in districts such as Jebrael, Kore Milli and Khatem al-Anbia said Taliban forces tore down black banners and processional
Afghanistan International: Clashes broke out on Monday evening, in the Jebrael area of Herat city after Taliban forces attempted to dismantle Muharram mourning tents, prompting resistance from mourners. Videos obtained by Afghanistan International show Taliban forces firing weapons and tearing down the tents. The incident reportedly followed orders from Taliban authorities to remove tents not