The Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has conducted a nationwide survey across 12 Afghan provinces, questioning thousands of residents about their adherence to religious practices and moral regulations.
According to documents leaked by a hacking group, the ministry surveyed 500 individuals in each province, focusing on issues such as the promotion of religious virtue and the enforcement of hijab regulations.
The survey was conducted in Helmand, Bamiyan, Kunar, Paktika, Sar-e Pol, Samangan, Maidan Wardak, Baghlan, Kapisa, Paktia, Jowzjan, and Laghman provinces. In total, 6,000 people participated in the study, and 479,800 Afghanis were allocated from the ministry’s budget for its implementation.
Survey Findings on Hijab Compliance
One of the primary questions posed in the survey was: “What percentage of people in your area observe Islamic hijab?”
According to the report, 86 percent of respondents claimed that hijab was “100 percent observed” in their communities, while 14 percent selected the 40 percent option.
However, the Taliban’s report noted that in Bamiyan province, women’s approach to hijab is influenced by Shia Islamic beliefs, and many do not adhere to the Taliban’s strict dress code.
Another question asked: “Do you have knowledge about promoting virtue and preventing vice?”
A majority—68 percent—claimed to have “complete knowledge” on the subject, while 66 percent of respondents expressed “full satisfaction” with the ministry’s morality enforcement.
Taliban’s Observations on Bamiyan’s Population
The Taliban’s ministry expressed concern over social interactions between men and women in educational institutions, healthcare centres, and government offices in Bamiyan, stating that gender segregation policies had not been properly implemented. The report described this as a “failure of the enforcers.”
According to the Taliban, only 10 percent of Bamiyan’s women adhere to what they define as “Islamic hijab”, and these are primarily rural women travelling into urban areas. The report also claimed: “Urban women do not observe hijab at all.”
Despite 78 percent of Bamiyan’s respondents claiming that hijab is observed, the Taliban noted that many locals consider fitted or thin clothing to be acceptable hijab, arguing that this interpretation aligns with their sectarian beliefs.
The Taliban further alleged that foreign influences, including an influx of domestic and international tourists, have eroded Islamic values in Bamiyan. The report accused Western countries of attempting to “distance the people of Bamiyan from Islam” and foreign organisations of spreading Western culture.
Taliban’s Allegations Against the Aga Khan Foundation
The Taliban report claimed that more than 60 foreign organisations are operating in Bamiyan, alleging that some, including the Aga Khan Foundation, have attempted to convert locals to Christianity.
The ministry’s report stated: “During the Republic era, the Aga Khan Foundation was visibly active, and those who accepted its invitation were sent abroad.”
Although the report acknowledged that the organisation remains active, it suggested that its missionary activities are no longer as visible.
Sectarian Differences in Bamiyan
The Taliban’s ministry cited differences between Shia and Sunni scholars in Bamiyan as a major obstacle to enforcing religious policies, particularly in relation to Friday prayers and the promotion of virtue. The report claimed that Shia scholars regard such matters as “optional recommendations.”
The survey also highlighted the lack of religious schools in Bamiyan, which the Taliban described as contributing to “religious negligence.”
Additionally, the report noted that although two mosques exist in the province’s centre—one Shia and one Sunni—both are too far from the main market for the call to prayer to be widely heard. The ministry estimated that 20,000 people visit Bamiyan’s central market daily, yet “half of them do not pray.”
The Taliban also lamented that despite three years of their rule, local radio stations in Bamiyan continue to broadcast music and songs, which they view as a violation of their moral directives.
Crackdown on Salafi Followers in Kunar
The Taliban’s survey also reported sectarian disputes in Kunar, particularly regarding the way Salafi followers perform religious practices.
The report noted that Salafis perform the Taraweeh prayer with only eight rakats instead of 20, deliver a single sermon for Friday prayers, and say seven Takbirs during Eid prayers. Additionally, Salafis were criticised for reciting funeral prayers aloud and for an extended duration.
The Taliban claimed that both the local population and the ministry’s enforcers have struggled to control Salafi followers, and that the group has actively prevented the growth of the Salafi movement in Kunar.
The ministry also warned that most teachers in Kunar’s religious schools follow the Salafi sect, arguing that this “corrupts the younger generation and distances them from their true faith.”
