The explicit suppression of the Ja’fari sect in West Kabul; the Taliban forcibly removed symbols of Mid-Sha’ban. Local sources in West Kabul report that, coinciding with the arrival of Mid-Sha’ban, the Taliban have prevented the installation of flags and religious symbols through coercive and threatening behavior, and have taken down a number of installed flags
When Art Is Labeled as Rebellion; Taliban Intelligence Arrests Seyed Ghafar Agha in Kabul. Local sources report that Seyed Ghafar Agha, a well-known local artist and dambura player in Afghanistan, has been arrested by Taliban intelligence in Kabul, despite holding an official document of “general amnesty.” So far, the Taliban have provided no explanation for
Strong Criticism by Naqibullah Faiq of Anwar-ul-Haq Ahadi’s Remarks and the Dismissal of University Professors in Faryab. Naqibullah Faiq, a political activist and analyst, strongly criticized recent remarks by Anwar-ul-Haq Ahadi and discriminatory actions in government and universities. He warned that ethnocentric policies are becoming institutionalized. He said non-Pashtuns are gradually being excluded from government
Taliban Cancel Licenses of Ten Media Organizations; Journalists Center Protests. The Afghanistan Journalists Center announced that the Taliban Ministry of Information and Culture has revoked the licenses of at least ten media and journalism organizations. The center condemned the move in a statement issued on Monday, (26 January 2026). It described the decision as a
Taliban Higher Education Minister: Even Asking About Girls’ Schools Is Banned and a Crime. Neda Mohammad Nadim, the Taliban’s Minister of Higher Education, announced in a recent speech that just as girls’ education and attendance at schools are suspended until further notice, asking questions about this issue is also prohibited until further notice. He emphasized
Ismailis in Afghanistan: “The Taliban Violate Our Rights and Treat Us as Enemies”. Followers of the Ismaili faith in Badakhshan have issued an open letter describing their situation under Taliban rule as extremely dangerous. They state that the Taliban not only violate their religious and civil rights, but also label Ismailis as “absolute infidels,” subjecting
Hanfi: Beard Is Not Private; Justifying Street Harassment and Armed Raids. Khalid Hanfi, the Taliban’s Minister for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, has claimed that individuals’ beards and clothing do not fall under personal privacy and that religious police have the right to intervene. Saif-ul-Islam Khyber, the ministry’s spokesperson, released a portion
Why Are the Taliban Afraid of Religious Debate? Independent religious scholars assert that, instead of engaging in dialogue and scholarly debate, the Taliban have chosen the path of repression and elimination of religious critics. This approach, according to experts, stems from the group’s inability to defend its views through scientific or jurisprudential reasoning. Since its
When Efforts for a Green Future Are Met with Prison. Habib Najafi Zada, an environmental activist and forestation advocate from Daykundi Province, was released after three days of detention by the Intelligence Directorate of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Najafi Zada resumed his tree-planting activities in the hills of Qala-e-Hashmat, District 8, Kabul. He has
Deep Divide Between the Taliban and Afghan Society: When the Taliban Narrative Loses Credibility. In recent months, the Taliban have realized that in the arena of media and narrative control, they have largely ceded ground to independent media, particularly international outlets. Domestic media under Taliban control has lost much public trust due to one-sided, propagandistic
