Taliban Forces Close Shia Religious School in Kabul, Detain School Officials

Stolica Afganistanu Kabul, Olgamielnikiewicz, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 | Jihad Watch

Taliban intelligence forces have reportedly raided and shut down the Khatam-ul-Anbia Religious School in western Kabul, forcing students and staff to leave the premises. Local sources said the authorities also detained the school’s head and several teachers, although their current whereabouts and condition remain unknown.

According to local sources, Taliban intelligence personnel surrounded the school at around 10 a.m. on September 21. Students and school officials were ordered to leave before the authorities sealed the entire complex, including the Grand Martyr Mazari Prayer Hall and administrative offices.

The sources identified the head of the institution as Sayed Hassan Fazelzada, who was reportedly taken into custody along with several teachers. The school is located in the Madrasa area of western Kabul. The same premises also housed an office of a Taliban-established commission dealing with disputes between nomadic Kuchi communities and settled residents. It remains unclear whether that office was also closed during the operation.

The Taliban has not publicly commented on the reported raid, the closure of the religious school or the alleged detention of its officials and teachers.

Growing Restrictions on Shia Institutions

The reported closure comes amid a series of actions affecting Shia religious and educational institutions in Kabul. Local reports said that the Taliban’s Ministry of Justice recently dissolved the High Shia Commission of Afghanistan and confiscated the membership cards of 25 members, instructing them not to return to the commission’s office. The commission was reportedly established with the involvement of the Taliban’s intelligence agency.

The Khatam al-Nabieen complex in Kabul has also faced action from Taliban authorities. Reports said the complex, which includes a religious seminary and university, was raided and faced moves toward closure, while the university’s operating license was subsequently revoked.

The latest developments have raised further concerns among Afghanistan’s Shia community about the future of its religious, educational and administrative institutions. With the Taliban yet to provide an official explanation for the Khatam-ul-Anbia school operation, details surrounding the reasons for the closure and the status of those reportedly detained remain unclear.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)