Hawzah News Agency- In the wake of the Taliban's push to forcibly evacuate the Khatam al-Nabiyyin seminary — one of the most prominent Shia religious and academic centers in Kabul — teachers, students and a number of Shia citizens gathered to protest the move. According to eyewitnesses and media reports, Taliban forces stormed the demonstrators to disperse them and beat a number of people with batons.
Reports indicate that Taliban forces detained a number of people who were present in the seminary compound. It is also said that Hojatoleslam Hassan Mohseni, a prominent Shia scholar and son of the late Ayatollah Mohammad Asif Mohseni, was arrested and transferred to an unknown location.
Khatam al-Nabiyyin seminary, a major Shia academic center in Afghanistan
The Khatam al-Nabiyyin seminary is among the most important religious and academic centers for Shia Muslims in Kabul. It was founded in 2007 by Ayatollah Mohammad Asif Mohseni, a prominent Shia scholar of Afghanistan.
The seminary is located in the Sark-e Darulaman area of Kabul and, in addition to teaching religious sciences, has been active in academic, research and cultural fields. A number of Shia scholars and students in Afghanistan completed their studies and teaching careers at this center.
Ayatollah Mohammad Asif Mohseni was considered one of the prominent religious and political figures of Afghanistan's Shia community and played a significant role in the country's religious, academic and political spheres. After his death, responsibility for running the Khatam al-Nabiyyin seminary was handed over to his family.
Concerns over actions against Shia centers
The recent action against the Khatam al-Nabiyyin seminary comes amid previous expressions of concern in Afghan Shia circles over restrictions and actions against Shia religious and educational activities, as well as against the Hazara community.
Some Shia circles say restrictions on teaching Shia jurisprudence, the possible removal of Shia representatives from some provincial scholars' councils, the forced displacement of Hazaras from certain areas and property disputes — alongside actions against religious and educational centers — have had a negative impact on Afghanistan's religious and social atmosphere.
In this context, the recent action against the Khatam al-Nabiyyin seminary is also seen by some circles as part of growing pressure on Shia religious and academic centers.
Three Afghan political parties condemn Taliban action
Following the action against the Khatam al-Nabiyyin seminary and other measures against the Shia and Hazara communities, three major Afghan political parties condemned the actions in separate statements.
The Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan, the Islamic Unity Party of the People of Afghanistan and the Islamic Society of Afghanistan, in their statements, condemned the attack on the Khatam al-Nabiyyin seminary, the suspension of the Tamadon and Rah-e Farda television networks and certain restrictions imposed on the Hazara and Shia communities.
The Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan, condemning the Taliban forces' action against the Khatam al-Nabiyyin seminary in Kabul as well as the closure of people's shops in the Jebrail area of Herat, described these actions as part of a process of increasing pressure, restriction and deprivation of the Hazara and Shia communities of Afghanistan from their basic rights.
Joint statement by Afghan scholars and students
Meanwhile, professors, scholars and students of Afghan seminaries issued a joint statement protesting the siege and attempted forced evacuation of the Khatam al-Nabiyyin seminary.
The statement opens by citing the Quranic verse "Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice," emphasizing that in an Islamic government, justice, the rule of law and the protection of citizens' basic rights must be fundamental principles of governance.
The statement says that in Islamic law, discrimination based on ethnic, racial and religious differences has no place, and the Holy Quran emphasizes justice and fairness. According to the scholars and students, religious and ethnic discrimination not only contradicts Islamic principles but can also increase distrust and instability in the country.
The statement goes on to describe Afghanistan as a country where followers of different Islamic schools of thought have lived side by side for years on the basis of Islamic brotherhood and national unity. The scholars and students warned that religious pressure, sowing division and actions that harm society's unity can damage Afghanistan's national interests.
A war-weary nation needs peace and stability
Afghan scholars and seminary students stressed in their statement that the people of this country have experienced years of war, bloodshed and insecurity and now need peace, stability and calm more than ever.
The statement says no action should be taken that once again creates an atmosphere of concern, fear and insecurity in society. Besieging religious and educational centers such as the Khatam al-Nabiyyin seminary and attempting to forcibly close them can affect people's sense of spiritual and psychological security.
The scholars and students stressed that, to protect national interests and public stability, disputes and conflicts must be resolved through legal and judicial means rather than force.
Call to resolve property and religious center disputes through the courts
The joint statement by the scholars and students also stressed that any claim, dispute or conflict over the property and assets of individuals and institutions must be examined and resolved through legal and judicial processes.
The statement says that closing academic, cultural and religious centers, detaining people without legal process and depriving them of their rights are incompatible with the principles of Islamic justice.
Afghan scholars and seminary students called for an end to the siege of the Khatam al-Nabiyyin seminary, a halt to the process of confiscation and forced evacuation, and the provision of security and legal protection for those affiliated with the center.
Tamadon TV suspended
Simultaneously with the action against the Khatam al-Nabiyyin seminary, the Tamadon television network has also faced measures by Taliban authorities. According to reports, the network's operations were halted by order of the Taliban's Ministry of Justice.
Reports have also been published about restrictions imposed on the Rah-e Farda television network. Shia circles believe that the closure of religious and cultural centers and the restriction of media activity are part of a process of restricting the religious, academic and cultural activities of Afghanistan's Shia community.
Concern over the condition of Hojatoleslam Hassan Mohseni
After reports emerged about the detention of Hojatoleslam Hassan Mohseni, concerns have arisen among Shia circles about his condition and health.
Related circles have held Taliban authorities responsible for his life, security and dignity and have called for immediate information about his condition and his release.
Affiliates of the Khatam al-Nabiyyin seminary have also warned that if no information is provided about Hassan Mohseni's condition or if his detention continues without legal process, Shia people from various parts of Afghanistan, especially the southwestern regions, may travel to Kabul to protest.
Emphasis on tolerance and national unity
Shia scholars and seminary students in Afghanistan stressed in their statement the Shia community's continued efforts to strengthen Islamic brotherhood, national unity and establish peace in the country.
They declared that Afghanistan currently faces various challenges, and confronting these challenges is only possible through cooperation, justice, tolerance and national solidarity.
A number of Afghan Shia and political circles have called on Taliban authorities to resolve the issue of the Khatam al-Nabiyyin seminary through dialogue, law and judicial principles rather than force and pressure, to clarify the status of those detained, and to provide the ground for protecting the basic, religious and citizenship rights of all ethnic groups and followers of different faiths in Afghanistan.
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