Afghanistan: Taliban target religious scholars critical of the regime
After targeting women, the media, academics, and human rights defenders, the Taliban are now targeting clerics. Several recent detentions could be a sign of a broader crackdown on dissenting or non-aligned religious voices in Afghanistan.
Since returning to power in Afghanistan nearly four years ago, the Taliban have left no room for any form of dissent. The latest to find themselves in their crosshairs are religious scholars who have expressed their disagreement with the regime, reports Gandhara .
Since August 2021, the Taliban have "arrested, tortured, or forced into exile secular opponents, journalists, and human rights activists," the media outlet recalls.
“Today, the country's de facto rulers appear to be expanding their crackdown on Islamic scholars and clerics who publicly criticize the Taliban's harsh decisions or simply support more moderate policies.”
For example, Abdul Qadir Qanat, a Muslim cleric from Kabul, the Afghan capital, was one of the most prominent figures arrested by the Taliban in late May.
“They tied his hands and took him into a vehicle with his young son,” said a friend of Qanat, who requested anonymity, fearing reprisals from the Taliban.
“So far, we don’t know why he was arrested or what charges are against him,” said the friend, who is also a cleric. Abdul Qadir Qanat is known for speaking his mind on talk shows.
Courrier International
