Taliban Crackdown on Protesters Over Forced Evacuation of Khatam al-Nabiyyin Seminary in Kabul

Shiite News: Security forces in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, have reportedly launched a crackdown on clerics and students who were peacefully protesting against the forced evacuation of the well-known Shia religious seminary, Khatam al-Nabiyyin (PBUH) Seminary. According to eyewitnesses, Taliban forces used batons against the protesters and detained several people, including Hujjat al-Islam Hassan Mohseni, son of the seminary’s founder, Ayatollah Muhammad Asif Mohseni, reportedly taking them to an undisclosed location.

The reported action by the Taliban and what Shia and Hazara communities describe as continuing discriminatory measures have drawn strong reactions from Afghan political groups as well as scholars and students of religious seminaries. In a joint statement, scholars said that the reported siege of the seminary, attempts to take control of its property, and the closure of Shia television channels such as Tamaddon and Rah-e-Farda represent a continuation of sectarian pressure and serious violations of fundamental human rights in the country.

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Shia groups have warned that if immediate information about the safety of Hassan Mohseni is not provided and he is not released, Shia citizens from across the country could travel to Kabul to stage protests. They called on the Taliban authorities to resolve disputes involving religious institutions through legal procedures rather than coercion or force, warning that this would help prevent the war-torn country from facing further unrest and instability.