Afghanistan’s Shia leaders: The leader of the Taliban should rule on the criminalization of religious fanaticism

Hazara politicians Jafar Mahdavi welcomed the Taliban leader’s statement about non-discrimination against languages in Afghanistan and asked Hebatullah to order banning discrimination against religions.Shia scholars have repeatedly demanded the recognition of the Shia religion by the Taliban.

In a new audio file attributed to Hebatullah Akhundzadeh, the Taliban leader said that there should be no distinction between Persian and Pashto in Afghanistan. He said that if anyone makes a difference between Farsi and Pashto, he will be brought to court and punished.

Mahdavi, a former member of the Afghan parliament, in a note on X channel on Sunday, called the Taliban leader’s statement about “criminalizing ethnic and linguistic prejudices” as a “historically valuable and unprecedented order to ensure national unity in Afghanistan”.

This politician close to the Taliban said that he hopes that the Taliban will also “clarify and adapt” the “criminalization of religious prejudices” law.