The Spiritual Heart Of Kabul: Exploring Afghanistan's Religious Landscape

Afghanistan is an Islamic state, with approximately 99.7% of the population being Muslim. The country's official religion is Sunni Islam, practised by around 90% of the population, while around 10% are Shia Muslims. As such, there is strong societal pressure to adhere to Sunni Islamic traditions, and the moral code of Islamic doctrine tends to govern the political, economic and legal aspects of an Afghan's life.

However, it is important to note that not all Afghans are strictly observant Muslims. For example, many people do not pray on a regular basis, and the statistical estimations of each Muslim denomination's size in Afghanistan are unclear. While Shi'a leaders report that approximately 20-25% of the population is Shi'a, Sunni leaders state the figure is closer to 10%.

The cultural and national identity of Afghanistan is deeply shaped by Islam, which is noticeable in dress, dietary codes, regular prayers and language. For example, reverence to Allah is evident in the way many people speak; it is common to slip praise into casual conversation.

Afghanistan has struggled with sectarian tensions between its Sunni and Shi'a populations, and Sunni-dominated governments have a history of discriminating against minority Shi'ites. The Taliban, a radicalised Sunni terrorist insurgency group, continues to target and kill members of minority religious communities, often attacking Shi'a places of worship or religious ceremonies.

Islam is the official religion of Afghanistan, with 99.7% of the population being Muslim

Afghanistan is an Islamic state, with Islam as its official religion. The country's population is approximately 99.7% Muslim, with most citizens following Sunni Islam. The remaining Muslim population is made up of Shia Muslims, with a small number of Ismailis. Sunni Muslims constitute 80-85% of the population, while Shia Muslims make up 10-15%.

The cultural and national identity of Afghanistan is deeply shaped by Islam, which influences dress, dietary codes, language, and daily routines. While not all Afghans are strictly observant, Islamic customs form the basis of many general cultural norms. For example, reverence for Allah is often evident in casual conversation, and Islamic values such as honesty, frugality, generosity, virtuousness, piousness, fairness, truthfulness, tolerance, and respect are highly regarded.

The Afghan government is established as a Sunni Islamic republic, creating strong societal pressure to adhere to Sunni traditions. The moral code of Islamic doctrine influences political, economic, and legal aspects of life. The constitution of Afghanistan mandates that:

> "Afghanistan shall be an Islamic Republic, independent, unitary, and indivisible state."

It also stipulates that Islam is the religion of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and that no law shall contravene its tenets and provisions. The constitution further outlines punishments for blasphemy and apostasy, which can include death, imprisonment, or confiscation of property.

The history of Islam in Afghanistan dates back to the 7th century with the Arab Islamic conquest. Initially, local tribes practised Zoroastrianism and Buddhism, but gradually converted to Islam, which became the primary religion by the 9th century. Since then, Islam has dominated the country's religious landscape, with Islamic leaders occasionally entering the political sphere during times of crisis.

While Afghanistan guarantees freedom of religion in its constitution, allowing followers of other faiths to exercise their beliefs within legal limits, religious minorities have faced significant challenges. These include discrimination, harassment, violence, and restrictions on their religious practices. As a result, the numbers of minority groups have declined as people have fled sectarian tensions and conflict.

Sunni Muslims constitute 80-85% of the population, with Shia Muslims making up 10-15%

Sunni Muslims constitute 80-85% of the population of Afghanistan, with Shia Muslims making up 10-15%. The country is an Islamic state, with Islam as the official state religion. The majority of the population is Muslim, with very small residual communities of other faiths, including Christians, Sikhs, Hindus, and Baháʼís.

The Sunni-Shia divide is a significant aspect of the religious landscape in Afghanistan, with the two denominations differing primarily in their interpretation of the succession of leadership in the religion. An Afghan's ethnicity is generally presumed to determine which denomination of Islam they belong to. Most Pashtuns, Tajiks, and Uzbeks are Sunni, while Hazaras constitute the largest Shia population in the country.

The Afghan government is established as a Sunni Islamic Republic, with strong societal pressure to adhere to Sunni Islamic traditions. The moral code of the Islamic doctrine influences the political, economic, and legal aspects of an Afghan's life. Sunni Muslims in Afghanistan are predominantly followers of the Hanafi Islamic school of law.

The Sunni-Shia divide has been a source of tension and conflict in Afghanistan, with a history of discrimination against minority Shia groups. The Taliban, a radicalised Sunni terrorist insurgency group, has targeted and killed members of minority religious communities, often attacking Shia places of worship and religious ceremonies. The Hazara Shia population has been a frequent victim of ethno-religious terrorism.

Shia Muslims constitute approximately 10% of the global Muslim population, with Iran having the largest Shia majority. The Sunni-Shia divide has intensified in recent years, marked by conflict and violence in various parts of the Muslim world.

The Taliban imposed its interpretation of Islamic law, establishing a Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice for enforcement

Afghanistan is an Islamic state, with approximately 99.7% of the population being Muslim. The Taliban, a radicalised Sunni terrorist insurgency group, imposed its interpretation of Islamic law when they took control of the country in 1996.

The Taliban established the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, also known as Amr bil-Maruf, to enforce their strict interpretation of Sharia law. This ministry was first instituted in 1992 by the Rabbani government and later adopted by the Taliban in 1996. The ministry was disbanded in 2001 when the Taliban were ousted from power, but it was reinstated in 2021 after the Taliban regained control.

The ministry was responsible for implementing Islamic rules and carried out strict enforcement of religious and moral codes. This included patrolling the streets, shutting down shops and markets during prayer time, and beating or arresting people who listened to music or did not adhere to the dress code. Women and girls were banned from schools and the workplace and were not allowed to leave their homes without a male guardian. The ministry also conducted Islamic punishments, such as the stoning of women charged with adultery.

The Taliban's interpretation of Islamic law and the actions of the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice have been widely criticised and condemned by human rights groups and the international community. Despite the Taliban's claims that they will govern with more moderation this time, their recent actions, such as the recent decree requiring all women to wear full-body coverings when in public, indicate that they continue to impose their strict interpretation of Islamic law on the Afghan people.

The Taliban persecuted members of other Islamic sects and non-Muslims, forbidding non-Muslims from building new places of worship

The Taliban's rule over Afghanistan has been marked by a strict interpretation of Sharia law, which has resulted in the brutal treatment of many Afghans. The Taliban's harsh enforcement of their interpretation of Islamic Sharia law has resulted in their brutal treatment of many Afghans, including members of other Islamic sects and non-Muslims.

The Taliban's rule has been internationally condemned for restricting human rights in Afghanistan, including the right of women and girls to work and to have an education. The Taliban have banned women from holding almost any jobs, required them to wear head-to-toe coverings such as the burqa, blocked them from travelling without male guardians, and banned all education for girls. They have also restricted access to education for boys, with only religious schools called madrassas remaining open to them.

The Taliban's interpretation of Sharia law has also led to the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities. They have committed massacres against Afghan civilians and conducted a policy of scorched earth, burning vast areas of fertile land and destroying tens of thousands of homes. They have also been accused of takfir towards Shia Muslims and have committed a cultural genocide against the Afghan people by destroying their historical and cultural texts, artifacts, and sculptures.

The Taliban's harshest critics have pointed to their treatment of women as evidence of their intolerance and brutality. Women have been banned from working, forbidden from attending schools or universities, required to observe purdah (physical separation of the sexes) and awrah (concealing their bodies with clothing), and forced to be accompanied by a male relative outside their households. Those who violated these restrictions were publicly whipped or executed.

The Taliban have also discriminated against Hindus and Sikhs, imposing strict Sharia laws that caused the size of Afghanistan's Hindu and Sikh populations to fall rapidly as they emigrated and established diasporas in the Western world. The Taliban issued decrees forbidding non-Muslims from building places of worship, criticising Muslims, living in the same residence as Muslims, and requiring non-Muslim women to wear a yellow dress with a special mark so that Muslims could keep their distance from them.

The Taliban's treatment of non-Muslims and members of other Islamic sects has been widely condemned by the international community and has led to their isolation on the world stage. Their harsh enforcement of their interpretation of Sharia law has resulted in the brutal treatment of many Afghans and has had devastating consequences for the country.

Religious minorities in Afghanistan, including Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, and Baha'is, remain endangered and unable to observe their faith publicly

Afghanistan is an Islamic state, with 90% of the population following Sunni Islam, and 10-15% following Shia Islam. However, religious minorities in Afghanistan, including Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, and Bahais, constitute less than 0.3% of the population and remain in danger, unable to observe their faith publicly.

Afghanistan's religious minorities have historically faced discrimination, harassment, and violence, with their situation becoming increasingly precarious following the Taliban's return to power in 2021. The Taliban, a Sunni Islamic group, have imposed their strict interpretation of Sharia law, marginalising and repressing religious minorities. This has included restricting access to worship, civil service positions, and university admissions. The Taliban have also failed to protect religious minorities from attacks by ISIS-K, leading to a climate of fear and insecurity.

Hindus and Sikhs, whose populations were already dwindling due to emigration and persecution, have faced continued discrimination and persecution under the Taliban. They often encounter interference in their religious rituals, such as cremation, and face illegal appropriation of property. The indigenous communities of Hindus and Sikhs are at risk of disappearing altogether as they are forced to leave the country.

Christians in Afghanistan, estimated to number between 2,000 and 3,000, also face severe persecution. They are forced to worship in secret and in small congregations due to fear of societal discrimination, persecution, and even death. Christian converts are considered apostates and can be punished by death under strict interpretations of Sharia law.

The Baha'i community, estimated at around 16,500 members, has been forced to live in secrecy since 2007, when a fatwa was issued against them, declaring their faith blasphemous. Baha'is risk persecution and even death if they are discovered, as they are considered apostates by the Taliban.

Overall, the situation for religious minorities in Afghanistan remains dire, with violations against them increasing since the Taliban's return to power. Religious minorities continue to face discrimination, harassment, and violence, and are unable to practice their faith publicly without fear of reprisal. The future of these communities in Afghanistan is highly uncertain.

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