RASC News Agency: Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, they have annually imposed severe restrictions on Muharram ceremonies. Recently, the Taliban have intensified these restrictions on Ashura mourners in Herat and several other provinces, further oppressing the Shia community.
In Herat province, the Taliban have increased restrictions and directed Shia Muslims to conduct Muharram ceremonies only in designated locations specified by the group. A religious scholar from Herat reports that during several meetings with Shia clerics, the Taliban insisted that the Muharram ceremonies be confined to specific, limited areas and that no roads or sidewalks be blocked during the events.
The Taliban stated, “There is no need for anyone to go on the streets or alleys; ceremonies should be held in the specific places we have designated.” Previously, a speech by the head of the Taliban’s Information and Culture Department in Herat circulated on social media, in which he referred to Muharram ceremonies as a “political and foreign innovation.” Last week, this Taliban official, during a meeting with the Shia scholars committee organizing the Muharram ceremonies, stated that “political innovations” should be prevented during Ashura. This speech by Meteki has sparked strong reactions.
Simultaneously, several residents of Jebriel town in Herat report that in the past five days, the Taliban have repeatedly torn down and destroyed mourners’ flags at night. They add that the aggressive Taliban fighters have also arrested five residents of the Shia-majority Jebriel area. A Jebriel resident stated, “The Taliban have deployed many fighters to the area, and at night, they tear down and dispose of the flags. We have been preparing for Muharram for six to seven days, setting up tents, raising flags, and serving tea or water as part of the mourning ceremonies, but the Taliban act against us and our religion.”
This Herat resident continued, “The Taliban forces have come to Jebriel under the pretext of ensuring security, but instead of providing security, they tear down the tents and flags installed on the streets and at the entrances of residential homes at night, and they view everything with hostility. We are forced into silence.”
Jafar, a Muharram mourner, reported that the Taliban arrested five individuals for reacting to the tearing down of flags. He emphasized that the Taliban look at Shia Muslims with contempt. He added, “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, and if you think I’m making this up, come and see the situation for yourself. Unfortunately, both Shia people are insulted, and our compatriots are arrested.”
He stressed, “The Taliban tore down the flags we had painstakingly raised in the scorching summer heat of Herat during the middle of the night. When a few young men reacted to this action in the morning, they were arrested by the Taliban two on Wednesday and three on Thursday.” Residents of Jebriel town in Herat reported that last night, in response to the Taliban fighters tearing down mourners’ flags, they took to the streets and protested.
