Human Rights Advocates Urge Action Against Taliban’s Suppression of Religious Minorities in Afghanistan

During an international meeting, human rights advocates expressed deep concern over the rising pressure that the Taliban is exerting on religious minorities in Afghanistan and called for an end to the suppression of followers of various faiths.

Participants Condemn Taliban’s Monopolization of Religion

In an online session focusing on the state of religious freedoms in Afghanistan, human rights activists criticized the increasing pressures by the Taliban on followers of different religions. This session was hosted on the first day of the Afghan month of Mizan by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

Hanifa Ghirwal, a special human rights advisor for the United Nations in Afghanistan, emphasized that Afghanistan has historically been a model of peaceful coexistence among religious minorities, but this situation has deteriorated significantly due to political and military shifts.

Belief Crisis in Afghanistan

She stated that over the past five years under Taliban rule, the religious landscape of the country has worsened dramatically, with the group imposing its specific interpretation of faith on the populace.

Sharzad Akbar, head of the human rights organization “Towhid,” highlighted the Taliban’s systematic efforts to enforce the Hanafi school of thought while disregarding the rights of minorities, asserting that this approach undermines the fundamental rights of adherents of other religions.

New Laws and Restrictions for Minorities

She also touched upon citizens’ rights, noting that a new penal code, set to be enacted in 2026, would recognize the rights of only Hanafi followers. Furthermore, severe restrictions imposed on Afghan women and girls were noted, including the ban on education for girls beyond the sixth grade.

Fazl-ul-Hadi Wazin, a member of the World Union of Muslim Scholars, proposed that the solution to these challenges lies in the rule of law and the establishment of an inclusive constitution that guarantees the rights of all citizens without discrimination.

Taliban’s Response to Criticism

Despite the raised concerns, Taliban officials have yet to respond to these criticisms. Previously, Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesperson, claimed that the Sharia rights of all Afghan people are being protected, a statement that has continuously faced criticism from international bodies and civil activists.