Home » Three Afghan Clerics Arrested by Taliban for Criticizing Leadership

Three Afghan Clerics Arrested by Taliban for Criticizing Leadership

Taliban crackdown intensifies with the detention of religious scholars

by Amelia Crawford

KABUL, Afghanistan — The recent arrest of three religious scholars critical of the Taliban’s leadership has sparked widespread condemnation from Islamic scholars, former prosecutors, and human rights groups. The detentions are seen as part of the Taliban’s broader crackdown on dissenting voices in the country.

The clerics—Abdul Qadir Qanit, Mahmood Hassan, and Abdul Aziz Shuja—were apprehended by the Taliban’s intelligence agency after publicly criticizing the policies of the Taliban, particularly the centralization of power in Kandahar, sources familiar with the situation reported. Their current whereabouts remain unknown.

According to clerics and legal experts, the arrests reflect the Taliban’s increasing intolerance towards opposition. Zia Badakhsh, an Islamic scholar, commented, “The Taliban does not tolerate dissent. They use arbitrary arrests, threats, and even torture to silence critics, much like they did with protesting women. I fear the same fate for Mr. Qanit and Mr. Hassan.”

The three scholars had recently spoken out at a press conference in Kabul, calling on the Taliban to form a more inclusive government and restore rights for women and girls. Hassan, one of the arrested clerics, had criticized the concentration of power in Kandahar, saying, “Step out of Kandahar—other provinces are also part of Afghanistan.” Shuja had stressed the importance of education for all, stating, “Anyone with knowledge, whether man or woman, has a high status in the eyes of God.”

Following the event, the Taliban’s intelligence forces arrested the clerics, sources revealed.

Ghulam Farooq Aleem, a former prosecutor, suggested that these arrests are part of a strategy to spread fear among potential critics. “The Taliban want to send a message: Anyone who dares to criticize them will be silenced,” he said.

Qanit had previously been arrested in October but was released after just two days in detention.

Since taking control in August 2021, the Taliban have increasingly relied on arbitrary arrests, threats, and intimidation tactics to suppress opposition. Human rights organizations have also raised concerns about the continued detention of journalist Mahdi Ansari and media worker Sayed Rahim Saeedi by the Taliban.

As of now, the Taliban has not made any public statement regarding the detentions of the three clerics.

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