Taliban bans teaching of “Jafari Denomination” basics in Afghan schools

The Taliban Ministry of Theology has issued a ban on the teaching of “Jafari Jurisprudence” representing Twelver Shiism in private schools in Afghanistan.

The ban has come after the subject was banned at universities earlier.

Report

In Afghanistan Islamic education takes place in mosques, madrasahs, and Qur’ān schools as well as in Western type of schools (primary and secondary schools).

The Taliban’s Ministry of Theology has issued a mandate to all school principals across Afghanistan earlier this week, which meant that the teaching of books containing topics related to the Shia religion has been banned in Afghanistan since Sunday, September 10.

The curriculum of public and private schools in Afghanistan includes a subject with the title “Islamic education”, which is supposed to educate students on religious basics.

The Theology Ministry of the former government of Afghanistan had published a book on this subject in two versions based on the Jafari and Hanafi schools of thought.

However, according to the new mandate of this Ministry, no books related to the Shia religion will be taught in public and private schools from this date onwards.

During the 20 years of the former republic government of Afghanistan, Jafari Jurisprudence was taught to Shiite students in public and private schools.

Jafari School of Jurisprudence was also taught in the public and private universities and was taken by many enthusiastic Shiites, but this was banned after the Taliban rule over Afghanistan.

After the ban in Afghan universities in last year’s winter, a number of students, professors and civil activists staged protests, which the Taliban Government took for granted.

In an official statement, the Ministry of Higher Education of the Taliban rejected the request of the Shia Ulema Council to include Jafari jurisprudence in the university curriculum.

Rejecting this request, this ministry wrote in a resolution that “a single system needs a single quorum and a single law.” The Shia community of Afghanistan—whose members are predominantly Hazaras—are facing systematic discrimination, targeted attacks, marginalisation, persecution, and harsh restrictions by the Taliban. The Taliban has imposed bans on the Shias’ and Hazaras’ freedom of religion or belief.