Kabul: Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, they have imposed severe restrictions on Muharram commemorations. Recently, these measures have become even stricter against Ashura mourners, particularly in Herat and several other provinces, targeting the Shia community.

In Herat, the Taliban have mandated that Shia Muslims hold Muharram ceremonies only in specific locations designated by the group. A Shia religious scholar told Hasht-e Subh Daily that in several meetings with Shia scholars, the Taliban emphasized that ceremonies must be confined to specified areas, ensuring no streets or sidewalks are obstructed. A speech by Ahmadullah Muttaqi, the Taliban’s head of the Directorate of Information and Culture in Herat, circulated on social media, refers to Muharram ceremonies as a “political and foreign innovation.” Last week, in a meeting with Shia scholars at the Muharram organizing committee, Muttaqi stated that “political innovations” must be prevented during Ashura, sparking strong reactions.

Meanwhile, residents of Jebriel Township in Herat province report that over the past five days, the Taliban have repeatedly torn down and destroyed mourning flags at night. Aggressive Taliban fighters have also arrested five residents of the Shia-majority area. Ali Reza, a resident of Jebriel, says the Taliban have deployed many fighters to the area, tearing down flags at night. “For six to seven days, we have been preparing for Muharram, setting up tents, installing flags, and offering tea or water for the mourning ceremonies, but the Taliban are acting against us and our religion,” he said. He added that Taliban forces have come under the pretext of providing security but have instead torn down tents and flags set up on the streets and at home entrances at night.

Jafar, one of the Muharram mourners, said the Taliban arrested five people for protesting the flag destruction. He emphasized that the Taliban look down on Shia Muslims with contempt, using every possible means to suppress them and their ceremonies. "The Taliban view us Shia people with disdain and use every possible means to suppress us and our ceremonies. They see us as non-Muslims," Jafar said. He added that the Taliban tore down and destroyed flags put up during the hot summer nights of Herat, and when some young people protested, the Taliban arrested them—two on Wednesday and three on Thursday. Video footage from Herat obtained by Hasht-e Subh Daily shows the Taliban tearing down mourners' flags at night in the 12th and 13th districts of Herat city.

Residents of Jebriel Township in Herat protested the Taliban's actions last night. Mohammad Reza (pseudonym), one of the protesters, said, "For three nights, mourners’ flags in Jebriel were torn down, and our youth were arrested, but last night when the Taliban tried to tear down the flags again, everyone found out and prevented this action." Over the past three years, the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on Shia Muslims in Afghanistan under the pretext of security threats and preventing terrorist attacks, marginalizing this religious group.

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