Afghan Shiite Commission Demands Investigation into Physical and Insulting Treatment of Ayatollah Sharifi
The Afghan Shiite Commission has announced that during a meeting with the head of the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, it raised the issue of the “physical and insulting” treatment of Ayatollah Hosain Dad Sharifi, a well-known Shiite cleric, and demanded measures to prevent such incidents from recurring. According to the commission, Taliban officials promised “serious follow-up” and committed to sharing the outcomes of their investigations with the commission.
This meeting comes after reports emerged that Ayatollah Sharifi was transferred to the 18th police district in Kabul city and was beaten by the officers of the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. According to local sources, the Shiite cleric faced “humiliating and physical” treatment because he officiated a couple’s marriage prior to the wedding ceremony.
The Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has not officially responded either to the incident itself or to the meeting with the Shiite Commission. The silence of this institution in the face of published reports has heightened concerns about how transparently this case will be handled.
The Taliban administration consistently insists that the rights of all ethnic groups and religious followers are protected within the framework of “Islamic Sharia.” However, multiple reports from international organizations and human rights defenders indicate that restrictions and pressures on Shiite Muslims have continued in recent years.
Over the past five years, there have been numerous reports of arrests, summons, and pressures on Shiite clerics and community leaders across various parts of the country; a matter that has consistently caused concern within Afghanistan’s Shiite community, highlighting the demand for accountability and guarantees of religious safety.
