Destruction of Religious Freedom in Afghanistan: Taliban’s Systematic Policy Against Religious Minorities

Kokcha News Agency – Religious freedom, a fundamental human right recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, has been systematically destroyed in Afghanistan under the Taliban. The Taliban’s extremist interpretation of Islam permits only one form of belief: Sunni Islam as per their own interpretation. Any deviation, including Shia practices, worship in Sikh temples, or conversion to other religions, is labeled as “blasphemy,” “heresy,” or “apostasy,” punishable by severe penalties.

This report, based on international reports, field testimonies, and legal analysis, examines the state of religious freedom in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021.

Historical Context: From Religious Diversity to Forced Uniformity
Afghanistan has historically been a multicultural and multi-religious country. Shias (mostly from the Hazara ethnic group) reside in central and western regions like Bamyan, Daikundi, Ghazni, and Dasht-e-Barchi in Kabul. Sikhs and Hindus live in cities like Kabul, Kandahar, and Jalalabad, while secret Christian communities (mostly Afghan converts or foreign refugees) and a small Jewish community have also existed.

However, the Taliban has always viewed this diversity as “division” and “infidelity.” During their first rule (1996–2001), they carried out mass killings of Shia Hazaras, destroyed the Buddhas of Bamyan, and shut down Sikh temples. Today, with their return to power, these policies have resurfaced, now enforced through modern tools: laws, institutions, and global silence.

Shias: The Primary Target of Religious Suppression
Shias, particularly the Hazara ethnic group, have borne the brunt of Taliban policies, making up 15-20% of Afghanistan’s population.

Seizure and Closure of Religious Sites
The Taliban has seized, closed, or destroyed Shia mosques and Hussainiyas (Shia religious centers). In Dasht-e-Barchi, Kabul, several local Hussainiyas were abruptly closed in 2023 and 2024. Taliban forces declared, “Any prayer not in line with our interpretation of Islam is heresy.”

In Ghazni, the Imam Zaman Mosque was converted into a Taliban school. In Bamyan, the Imam Hussain Mosque, rebuilt after its destruction in 2001, has been shut down again.

Ban on Congregational Prayers and Religious Ceremonies
Shia congregational prayers in public mosques are officially banned. Those who attempt to pray are arrested, flogged, or interrogated. During Muharram 2023, over 40 Shia men were arrested in Mazar-e-Sharif for holding a mourning ceremony in a private home.

Destruction of Shrines and Pilgrimage Sites
Shia shrines in Bamyan have been severely damaged or neglected. In spring 2023, young men under Taliban supervision used bulldozers to destroy a shrine in Daikundi.

Other Religious Minorities: The Erasure of Identities
Sikhs and Hindus: From Presence to Near Extinction
Before 2021, around 700 Sikh and Hindu families lived in Afghanistan. Today, fewer than 100 remain.

The Gurdwara Karte Parwan in Kabul, the main Sikh religious center, was destroyed in 2022. Religious ceremonies are now banned, and many have fled, while the rest live in silence.

Secret Christians: Living in Fear of Execution
Conversion to Christianity is punishable by death under Taliban rule. Afghan converts pray in secret, fearing exposure. In 2023, a man named “Reza” (pseudonym) was handed over to the Taliban by his family after converting to Christianity. He was detained and tortured for months.

Jews: The Last Remaining Symbol
Only one Jew, Zabulon Simantov, remains in Kabul. He says, “I live in fear of death every day.” The historic Kabul synagogue is now sealed and neglected.

Tools of Suppression: Law, Institutions, and Violence
The Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice
This institution is the most powerful tool of religious suppression. Its forces raid homes, mosques, and temples daily, stopping any non-Sunni worship.

Official Taliban Decrees
In October 2022, the Taliban issued a decree: “No religious activity outside our strict interpretation of Sunni Islam is allowed.” This decree effectively outlawed all religious diversity.

Confiscation of Religious Books
Books on Shia, Sikh, and other religions are systematically confiscated from bookstores and libraries. In Kabul, hundreds of books were seized in a single overnight operation.

Group Violence and Taliban Silence
ISIS-Khorasan’s terrorist attacks on Shia mosques in Kandahar, Mazar-e-Sharif, and Kabul have left thousands dead and wounded. The Taliban’s response has been either indifferent or justifying the attacks.

In an interview, a Taliban spokesperson said, “If someone prays in an unconventional manner in a mosque, they may face backlash from Muslims.” This statement indirectly justifies ISIS’s actions.

Silent Resistance
Despite the suppression, minorities resist through secret prayers, underground religious education, and digital dissemination of religious texts. However, this resistance occurs in darkness and fear.

Global Silence: Shameful and Dangerous
The UN and Western countries have repeatedly expressed concern, but no sanctions have been imposed on Taliban officials for religious suppression. This silence sends a message to the Taliban that they can continue erasing minorities without consequence.

Religious Freedom: A Non-Negotiable Right
As long as a Shia cannot pray in their mosque without fear, a Sikh cannot worship in their temple, or a Christian cannot confess their faith, no government can claim to be “Islamic.”

The world cannot remain silent. Targeted sanctions against Taliban officials must be imposed, safe spaces for refugees must be created, and our voices must grow louder.

Until faith is no longer a crime, Afghanistan will remain a land without justice.