Expansion of Taliban Extremist Policies Raises Alarm Over Organized Anti-Shia Indoctrination in Afghanistan’s Education System

Expansion of Taliban Extremist Policies Raises Alarm Over Organized Anti-Shia Indoctrination in Afghanistan’s Education System
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The introduction of a controversial extremist-leaning book into Afghan universities has triggered fresh concerns about the growing influence of Taliban ideology within the country’s educational structure. Human rights observers warn that this development could deepen religious discrimination and pose a serious threat to millions of Shia citizens.

Reports from Kabul indicate that authorities are preparing to incorporate the book “Nurturing the Minds of the Young Generation” by Mohammad Yahya Akhundzada into university curricula—sparking widespread alarm among the Shia community and civil society activists. The book, printed multiple times in Kabul, contains inflammatory content targeting Shias and other Islamic denominations. On page 171, the author labels only Sunnis as the “true believers,” describing Shias and other groups as “misguided” and “invalid.”

Human Rights Watch has stated that such material, when embedded in the education system, can fuel violence and entrench structural discrimination. The book also includes a distorted translation of Qur’an 2:109 and emphasizes sectarian conflict, further heightening controversy.

Educational sources in Kabul say the book is already being taught in Taliban-run jihadist schools and is used as a primary source in reading competitions—evidence of an expanding organized extremist Sunni movement among the youth.

According to verified reports cited by the BBC, the presence of hardline Taliban ideology in Afghanistan’s education sector has sharply increased since the group’s return to power. This is not the Taliban’s first attempt to promote extremist narratives. Previously, Noor Ahmad Islamjar, the Taliban governor of Herat, published a book labeling Shias as “infidels” and “allies of unbelievers.”

Additionally, Taliban-affiliated media outlets such as the Al-Mersad website have repeatedly referred to Shias as “misguided,” though some posts were later removed following public backlash.

Human rights experts and political analysts warn that the combination of extremist policies, targeted propaganda, restricted education, and the spread of radical literature is fostering an environment of religious hatred and threatening Afghanistan’s social and security future. Amnesty International has cautioned that the continuation of this trend could have grave consequences for the younger generation and for religious coexistence in the country.