Human Rights Advocates Demand Protection for Religious Minorities in Afghanistan

At an international meeting, human rights activists expressed concerns over the increasing pressures faced by religious minorities in Afghanistan and called for an end to the suppression of followers of various faiths.

Participants at the International Conference Condemn Taliban’s Religious Monopoly

In an online conference centered on the state of religious freedom in Afghanistan, advocates for human rights criticized the rising pressures exerted by the Taliban on various religious followers. The meeting, hosted by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), took place on October 23.

Hanifa Gherwal, a consultant to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, emphasized during the conference that Afghanistan has historically been a model of peaceful coexistence among religious minorities. However, she lamented that this balance has been severely disrupted by political and military changes.

A Crisis of Belief in Afghanistan

She noted that in the five years since the Taliban’s rise to power, the religious climate in the country has dramatically worsened, with the group imposing its specific interpretation of Islam on the population.

Shahrzad Akbar, president of the human rights organization “Tolerance,” highlighted the Taliban’s systematic efforts to enforce Hanafi Islam while disregarding the rights of minorities, stating that this practice undermines the fundamental rights of followers of other faiths.

New Laws and Restrictions for Minorities

She also pointed to the situation regarding citizenship rights, mentioning that a new criminal code set to be enacted in 2026 will only recognize the rights of Hanafi followers. The meeting also addressed severe restrictions placed on Afghan women and girls, including a ban on education for girls beyond the sixth grade.

Fazel-ul-Hadi Wazeen, a member of the World Union of Muslim Scholars, suggested that the way out of 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 criticisms, Taliban officials have yet to respond. Previously, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, claimed that the Sharia rights of all Afghan people are being protected, an assertion that has consistently faced scrutiny from international organizations and civil society activists.