Taliban Forcibly Close Ismaili Prayer Halls in Badakhshan.
Local sources in Badakhshan province report that the Taliban have forcibly closed five Ismaili prayer halls in Zibak district.
These prayer halls are located in the villages of Kazdan Bala, Kazdan Payin, Nowabad, Kida, and Kalal.
According to sources, the closures were carried out under orders from the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, using force, armed threats, and flogging.
Residents say the closures created an atmosphere of intense fear, leaving them no opportunity to protest or inquire.
Witnesses in Kazdan village reported that several local youths who went to seek explanations were met with abusive treatment by Taliban forces and beaten severely, falsely accused of being “infidels.”
Residents said that when they sought redress at the Zibak district administration, their complaints were ignored and no satisfactory response was provided.
Local sources added that the Taliban recently returned to Kalal village and instructed residents to perform prayers according to Sunni Hanafi jurisprudence, warning village elders that they would be held fully responsible for any noncompliance.
These developments occur amid previous reports from human rights organizations and credible media that Ismailis in Badakhshan have repeatedly faced violence, pressure to change their faith, and severe religious restrictions over the past years.
Some Ismailis have reportedly been killed due to their religious beliefs. Attempts to obtain comments from local Taliban officials in Badakhshan were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
