AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): A group of Afghan Shiite ulama have expressed dissatisfaction with the Taliban government’s restrictions on mourning for Hussain (a.s.).
In an interview with the AhlulBayt (a.s.) News Agency – ABNA – Hojat al-Islam Ghulam Rasool Nateqi, a Shiite scholar in Kabul, Afghanistan, stated, “This year, mourning ceremonies for Imam Hussain (a.s.) were held in all mosques and Hussainiyes, and there were no restrictions in this regard. For example, in Kabul, about 500 mourning ceremonies were held in various Hussainiyes and centers on the occasion of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (a.s.). But during the month of Muharram, the Taliban imposed restrictions on establishing Mowkebs in the streets, as well as raising mourning flags over private homes, which caused people to be dissatisfied. People demand that Taliban officials not impose such restrictions in the coming years.”
“Mourning in the month of Muharram is a global event, and in all parts of the world, even non-Muslim European and American countries, mourning ceremonies for Imam Hussain (a.s.) are held magnificently. But when restrictions are imposed on such ceremonies in an Islamic country, it attracts media attention. Therefore, the Taliban’s restrictions on mourners for Imam Hussain (a.s.) in Afghanistan during the month of Muharram have not good response globally, and such restrictions are not in the interest of the Afghan people and the Islamic Emirate,” he continued.
“The pressure on mourning ceremonies in the month of Muharram creates a gap between the nation and the government in Afghanistan, which is not in the interest of the country. Logical solutions should be considered to address the issue, and restrictions on religious ceremonies that don’t conflict with laws and Sharia shall not be imposed. The continued restrictions on mourning ceremonies do not have good consequences for Afghanistan as a whole country. The Shiites of Afghanistan are an undeniable fact. They form a very influential community in Afghan society. Afghanistan’s Shiites have had, have, and will have their religious programs throughout history. They are not satisfied with the imposition of such restrictions and do not consider it in the interest of Afghanistan,” Nateghi stressed.
“Religious freedoms under the Taliban government should be maintained as they were before, and mutual respect should be preserved. Afghanistan’s Shiites have always made the greatest effort to achieve Islamic brotherhood. Therefore, the restrictions imposed this year on mourning ceremonies for Imam Hussain (a.s.) in the country were not acceptable to them,” noted the Afghan Shiite scholar.
Taliban forces need to be briefed on Ashura mourning
At the same time, some other Shiite ulama of Afghanistan expressed their satisfaction with the holding of Ashura mourning ceremonies in the country with complete security and without terrorist incidents.
In this regard, Hojat al-Islam Rajab Ali Mahdavi told ABNA News Agency, “Although the Taliban government provided security for the Ashura mourning ceremonies, some restrictions on the ceremony were not welcomed by Afghan Shiites. Such restrictions are expected to be lifted in the future so that mourning ceremonies for Imam Hussain (a.s.) can be held in the country without any problems.”
“There seems to be cooperation in Afghan society for holding Ashura ceremonies. However, some individuals or groups inside the Taliban may be sensitive to Ashura and mourning ceremonies for some reason. The Taliban leadership needs to hold briefings for this group of its forces so that they can be familiarized with the issue and their doubts about the mourning ceremonies answered,” he stated.
Afghanistan’s Shiite scholars are concerned about the Taliban’s policies towards the country’s Shiites. In Muharram this year, the Taliban government imposed severe restrictions on mourners for Imam Hussain (a.s.) in Afghanistan, including a ban on the movement of mourning processions for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (a.s.), and a ban on establishing Mowkebs the month of Muharram. In addition, Taliban forces abused mourners for Imam Hussain (a.s.) in some provinces of Afghanistan, such as Kabul and Herat. In some cases, these forces even beat and detained mourners in the streets.
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