Taliban Shut Down Shiite Cultural and Educational Center in Kabul

Taliban Shut Down Shiite Cultural and Educational Center in Kabul
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Local sources in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, reported that the Taliban have closed the Imam Hussein Cultural and Educational Complex in the Afshar Dar al-Aman area, without issuing an official explanation. According to the sources, the closure took place on Sunday, December 21, following a direct order from the acting Minister of Justice, Abdul Hakim Shara’i.

The center was reportedly operating with valid legal and religious permits and had been conducting its cultural, educational, and academic activities in an organized and official manner.

The decision led to the suspension of all programs offered by the center, which had served thousands of beneficiaries in western Kabul and was considered one of the most prominent Shiite cultural institutions in the area.

The move has sparked concern among local residents and cultural activists, who described the closure as troubling, particularly due to the lack of transparency. Communities are awaiting an official statement clarifying the reasons behind the decision, amid fears of broader restrictions on religious and cultural institutions in the capital.