Taliban Crackdown on Shias Deepens in Afghanistan
Illustrative image showing concerns over religious freedom and restrictions facing Shia Muslims in Afghanistan.
September 11, 2026 | Kabul, Afghanistan
The Taliban’s treatment of Afghanistan’s Shia community is becoming increasingly alarming. Recent actions against Shia religious institutions, community leaders and media outlets have raised serious concerns about religious freedom and minority rights.
The situation became more serious after Taliban forces reportedly seized control of Khatam al-Nabieen, a major Shia seminary in Kabul, while several Hazara and Shia elders were reportedly detained.
The pressure has also reached Shia media. The Committee to Protect Journalists reported that Taliban forces raided Rah-e-Farda TV and forced the station off air after it covered the crackdown on the Shia minority.
These developments come amid wider restrictions on Shia religious practices. Human Rights Watch has reported that Afghanistan’s new legal framework increasingly favors the Hanafi interpretation of Islam and treats other Islamic traditions, including Shia communities, in discriminatory ways.
For Afghanistan’s Shia Muslims, this is more than a political dispute. The ability to worship, observe Muharram and Ashura, operate religious institutions and express concerns publicly are fundamental rights.
The Taliban must understand that religious freedom cannot exist when one interpretation of Islam is imposed on everyone else. Afghanistan’s Shia community deserves equal protection, dignity and the freedom to practice its faith without intimidation.
This criticism is directed at Taliban policies and abuses—not at Sunni Muslims as a whole. Sectarian hatred only deepens Afghanistan’s suffering.
This report was written by Qundeel Hassan, Senior Journalist and Human Rights Activist at Muawanewuakla. His reporting focuses on human rights, sectarian violence, minority rights, freedom of expression and attacks against vulnerable communities. Read more of his reporting
