The Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has announced the arrest of six students from Kabul University, accusing them of promoting “indirect atheistic ideas.”
Saif-ul-Islam Khyber, spokesperson for the ministry, said the students had been under surveillance for showing “clear signs of ideological deviation” and were detained following an internal investigation.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Khyber said the ministry had taken “practical measures” over the past two months against what it described as various intellectual and cultural movements. He also claimed that three individuals promoting “foreign ideologies” had been arrested during this period.
Khyber warned that “no one will be allowed to question the group’s religious values under the Islamic system.”
The ministry did not release further information regarding the identities or affiliations of the detained students.
In a separate incident on 29 June, the Taliban arrested two employees of the cultural-religious organisation Nama Rasana in Kabul, accusing them of promoting atheism, Christianity, and feminism.
Since taking power in August 2021, the Taliban has cracked down on religious minorities and dissenting beliefs. Human Rights Watch has warned that the group's policies have turned Afghanistan into a "nightmare" for religious freedom and fundamental human rights.
According to the organisation, the Taliban has committed widespread violations against religious minorities and individuals whose beliefs diverge from the group’s strict interpretation of Islam. Communities including Shias, Sufis, Ahmadis, Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians remain under threat of violence, harassment, and persecution.
In May 2024, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a warning about the worsening state of religious freedom in Afghanistan, noting that the Taliban continues to enforce its rigid interpretation of Sharia and suppresses the right to freedom of religion or belief.
