Afghanistan International: According to recent reports, Taliban forces in some districts—including Malistan in Ghazni province—attempted to compel Shia residents to break their fast on Sunday. Over the past four years, there have been several cases of the Taliban pressuring Shia communities to conform to its Supreme Court’s Eid announcements. In some instances, Taliban members reportedly
Amu: Local sources alleged that Abdullah Sarhadi, the Taliban governor of Bamiyan, coerced and threatened members of the Shia community in the province to denounce the ICC’s actions. According to reports, Sarhadi contacted several Shia elders in Bamiyan, instructing them to publicly condemn the ICC prosecutor’s request. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan International: Local sources from Herat told Afghanistan International that the Taliban arrested two influential Shia clerics in the town of Jibril and transferred them to an unknown location. According to sources, Mohammad Akbari and Hossein Azimi had previously protested against the Taliban’s restrictions on Ashura ceremonies. In July of this year, during the Ashura
8am: The Taliban have intensified restrictions against Shia Muslims by banning the import of Shia religious books and prayer texts into Afghanistan. Pilgrims returning from Karbala have voiced concerns over the Taliban’s harsh treatment and the prohibition on transferring these religious materials at border crossings. They report that during book collections, the Taliban insult Shia
8am: The massacre of Shia pilgrims at the border between the provinces of Ghor and Daykundi, for which ISIS has claimed responsibility, has once again highlighted the issue of Anti-Shiism among extremist Islamic groups. This event occurred in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, a group that has repeatedly demonstrated that it is no less anti-Shia than
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
Afghanistan International: Several Shia figures at a meeting in Germany declared that the people of Afghanistan, especially Shias, are being deliberately deprived of their human and Islamic rights under Taliban rule. They described the Taliban government as illegitimate and a “government of oppression,” asserting that resistance against the group is “permissible and necessary.” Click here
Afghanistan International: Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the death of a young woman named Tahira, who was detained by the Taliban two weeks ago. Sources from Bamiyan province have confirmed her death but have not established the cause. Initial media reports suggested that Tahira committed “suicide” after being released from prison. The Taliban have previously
Khaama: Simultaneous with the observance of Ashura ceremonies, reports indicate that the Taliban have completely shut down all telecommunications networks in Kabul, the capital city. According to the reports, Taliban forces have also blocked all roads in western Kabul, claiming to ensure security. The telecommunications networks have been down in Kabul since Tuesday morning, according
Afghanistan International: Reliable sources from Herat have confirmed that Taliban members killed a young Shiite man in the Jebrael township of the province on Thursday. The young man, identified as “Habib”, was killed amid rising tensions between the Taliban and Afghan Shiites over Ashura observances. According to local sources, Habib had clashed with Taliban members