Taliban Ban Teaching of Several Shia Religious Books in Herat

Source: Shabestan News Agency

A number of teachers at religious schools, mosque instructors and Shia families in Herat province say the Taliban have banned the teaching of several religious books belonging to the Shia denomination.

According to them, Taliban morality officials have in some cases collected these books from religious schools and mosques.

Khadija, a teacher at a religious school in the Jebrael area of Herat, says the Taliban have instructed teachers at the school to refrain from teaching Shia religious books, especially books of prayers and supplications.

She says, “All teachers were told that these books must no longer be taught. After that, Taliban morality officials collected the books.”

Reza, an instructor at one of Herat’s mosques, also says the Taliban have collected books related to the Shia denomination from some mosques and religious schools.

According to him, officials from the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice said while collecting the books that these works were “against Sharia” and should not be used.

Meanwhile, Mahdi, the father of a student at a religious school, says the move has caused widespread concern among Shia families.

He says, “If our children are deprived of learning their own religious books, their understanding of the beliefs and teachings of their denomination will also be limited. This issue has worried many families.”

These remarks come as the Taliban’s Information and Culture Directorate in Islam Qala district of Herat has also confirmed the collection of a large number of books related to the Shia denomination while they were entering Afghanistan through the Islam Qala border crossing.

However, the department has not provided further details about the fate of the books, the exact reason for their collection or the legal basis for the move.

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have repeatedly said they ensure the rights of all Afghan citizens in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic Sharia.

However, human rights organisations have expressed concern in various reports over increasing restrictions on civil, educational and religious freedoms in Afghanistan.