Taliban Forces Raid Khatam al-Nabiyyin Seminary in Kabul as Arrests and Eviction Orders Raise Concerns Among Shia Community
Taliban Forces Raid Khatam al-Nabiyyin Seminary in Kabul as Arrests and Eviction Orders Raise Concerns Among Shia Community
————————————-
Concerns have grown among Afghanistan’s Shia community following a reported raid by Taliban forces on the Khatam al-Nabiyyin Seminary in western Kabul, where several religious scholars, lecturers, and students were reportedly detained amid an ongoing dispute over the future of the religious institution.
According to local reports, Taliban forces affiliated with the Ministry of Justice surrounded the seminary and ordered its officials and students to leave the premises. Sources reported that military vehicles and armed personnel were deployed around the center, while a number of students remained inside the building.
The move prompted protests from supporters of the seminary and members of the Shia community in Kabul. Local sources reported that demonstrators gathered at the center in opposition to the evacuation order, while allegations emerged of clashes and harsh treatment of protesters.
The Khatam al-Nabiyyin Seminary is one of Afghanistan’s prominent Shia religious and educational institutions. Established in Kabul in 2007 by the late Shia scholar Ayatollah Mohammad Asif Mohseni, the center has provided religious education alongside academic, research, and cultural activities, serving as a place of study for many Shia scholars and students.
The latest developments come after previous disputes involving Taliban authorities and Shia-affiliated institutions in Kabul. Earlier reports indicated that the Ministry of Justice had taken action against several properties and organizations linked to the Shia community, including the sealing of facilities associated with the Khatam al-Nabiyyin complex.
The Taliban has not issued an official detailed statement regarding the latest operation and the reported arrests. Meanwhile, members of the Shia community and supporters of the seminary have called for respect for religious institutions and the protection of educational and cultural centers serving Afghanistan’s religious communities.
