From religious violence to financial incentives and security guarantees: Taliban pressures on Ismailis in Badakhshan.
In Badakhshan province, the Taliban issued an official decree stating that individuals converting from the Ismaili faith to Sunni Islam would receive “security coverage” as well as financial and administrative incentives.
According to this document, which was shared with media on Friday, January 23, 2026, the Taliban promised that young converts would be employed in government offices, while their family members would receive special consideration in the educational system.
The decree also specifies that the children of these families should be enrolled in schools outside Ismaili-majority areas, and that experienced and qualified teachers should be employed in schools within Ismaili communities, with salaries provided.
Additionally, students attending these schools would receive financial support, and new mosques would be allocated in areas with a growing number of Sunni converts.
These measures come amid reports that Ismailis in Badakhshan and other provinces have faced systematic discrimination, pressure, and violence since the Taliban’s return to power.
ocal sources and human rights organizations report cases of forced religious conversion and even armed attacks resulting in casualties among Ismaili citizens.
In the latest incident, two young Ismailis in Faizabad city were shot and injured, heightening concerns over escalating religious persecution in Badakhshan.
