Afghan Shia Scholars Council renews call for official recognition of Jafari School

The spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Shia Scholars Council, Seyyed Hossein Alami Balkhi, has renewed calls on the Taliban-led interim government to officially recognize the Jafari school of thought, describing it as a legitimate right for over ten million Shia Muslims in the country.

Speaking on Friday during a ceremony marking the 51st anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Mir Ali Ahmad Hojjat in Kabul, Balkhi emphasized that the Council has been pressing the government for over three years to recognize Shia Islam, but has yet to receive an official response.

Balkhi, who also heads the Association of Ahl al-Bayt Lovers, argued that such recognition would strengthen national unity and promote stability across Afghanistan. He also warned against continued neglect of the rights of the Shia population.

Official recognition of the Jafari school was revoked after the Taliban’s return to power in the summer of 2021. The Shia Scholars Council, the largest religious body representing Afghanistan’s Shia community, has consistently raised this demand on both national and religious occasions, citing it as a top priority.