SRW warns of growing pressure on Shia institutions and communities in Afghanistan

SRW warns of growing pressure on Shia institutions and communities in Afghanistan
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The international organization Shia Rights Watch has warned of increasing pressure on Shia communities and religious institutions in Afghanistan following reported actions against the Khatam al-Nabiyyin Islamic Seminary and Shia figures in Kabul.

In a recent report, the organization said it was monitoring developments surrounding the seminary, where Taliban forces reportedly surrounded the facility on September 5 and ordered administrators, teachers and students to leave the building.

The group cited reports that 28 teachers and students were detained, with four later released, while 24 others remained in custody according to available information at the time. It also referred to reports that remaining students were removed from the seminary and that Taliban authorities took control of the institution.

The organization said concerns increased after reports of the detention of Shia scholars and community representatives following a meeting in Kabul to discuss the situation and seek the release of detainees. It also raised concerns over reports that the office of Afghanistan’s Shia Council had been surrounded.

The group called for information about the whereabouts and legal status of detainees, urging Taliban authorities to ensure their safety and release anyone held for peaceful religious, educational or community activities.

It also said disputes over ownership of the seminary’s land should be resolved through transparent legal procedures and should not be used as a basis for arrests or restrictions on religious activities.

The organization urged international bodies, including the United Nations, to monitor the situation and seek clarification regarding the reported arrests and the status of Shia institutions.