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 “by force.”
According to sources, Taliban forces directly entered markets, areas around mosques, and residential neighborhoods, and collected any religious symbols.
According to these reports, religious flags and slogans related to Mid-Sha’ban, the birth anniversary of Imam Mahdi, the twelfth Imam of Ja’fari Shiites, have been targeted by the Taliban, and citizens have been warned to refrain from any form of celebration.
Sources state this action was accompanied by explicit threats, and local residents fear the potential consequences of disobedience.
This is while Mid-Sha’ban, known as “Eid-e Barat,” was widely and publicly celebrated in previous years, especially in Shiite-populated areas of Kabul.
Observers say what is happening in Kabul today is a clear sign of a policy of religious elimination and humiliation; a policy the Taliban have adopted since returning to power, according to which various sects are not only not recognized but are also silenced by force, threats, and insult.
