Prominent Iranian Sunni Cleric Visits Kabul Following Stops In Herat & Nimruz

Molavi Abdolhamid Ismaeelzahi, a prominent Iranian Sunni cleric, has arrived in Kabul after visiting Afghanistan’s western provinces of Herat and Nimruz.

His visit has drawn attention on social media, where images showed him being received by a number of Afghan religious scholars upon his arrival in the capital.

It remains unclear whether Ismaeelzahi’s trip was made at the invitation of the Taliban government or organised independently by religious figures.

Ismaeelzahi, widely regarded as the most influential Sunni leader in Iran, has been a vocal critic of the Islamic Republic, especially on issues concerning religious freedom and the rights of Sunni Muslims and other minorities.

Following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, Ismaeelzahi initially welcomed the development, describing it as a “great and remarkable victory.” At the time, he expressed cautious optimism about the group's transformation over the past two decades, stating: “I assure the world that today’s Taliban are not the Taliban of 20 years ago; they have gained experience and their views have evolved. Even if there are shortcomings, they can be corrected.”

However, he later issued strong criticism of the Taliban’s policies, particularly the ban on girls’ education. In a Friday sermon, he questioned the religious justification behind such measures, asking: “By what religious authority have you banned girls from studying?”

He continued: “When I said the Taliban are not the same as they were 20 years ago and have changed, some objected to my view. I still believe they’ve changed, but no one should prevent women from getting an education. Universities must be open to women.”