Critics Accuse Taliban of Double Standards in Government Land Disputes Affecting Shia Institutions

Critics Accuse Taliban of Double Standards in Government Land Disputes Affecting Shia Institutions
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The Taliban’s actions regarding land classified as “government property” in Afghanistan have sparked criticism and renewed debate over whether land recovery measures are being applied equally across the country.

According to a report by Afghanistan International, the Taliban Ministry of Justice has designated large areas of land in Kabul, Ghazni, Balkh, Maidan Wardak, and Nangarhar as state property, saying the decisions are based on ownership documents, land surveys, and court rulings.

The ministry has rejected claims that ethnic or sectarian identity influences its decisions. However, critics argue that the speed and intensity of enforcement vary between cases, particularly when the disputes involve areas or institutions associated with Afghanistan’s Shia community.

Critics have pointed to cases such as the Omid-Sabz area in western Kabul, where the Taliban declared more than 1,507 jeribs of land as government property, and the Nawabad area in Ghazni, where around 1,843 jeribs were similarly classified and residents were ordered to leave. Both areas are known for having large Shia populations.

The dispute over the complex had reportedly been under review by a Taliban-affiliated court, while the trustees say no final ruling on ownership had been issued before the latest actions. In recent months, several facilities connected to the complex—including the mosque, religious hall, library, male and female schools, and the Tamadon television network—were closed.

The Taliban maintains that its land policies are based on legal documentation and court decisions rather than sectarian or ethnic considerations. However, controversy continues over allegations of unequal enforcement, especially in cases involving Shia religious, educational, and media institutions.