14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Majority of Muslims are Sunnites and follow the Hanafi school of jurisprudence; a small minority adheres Sufism, a mysitc tradition within Islam ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21516]

"Traditionally, the dominant religion has been the sect of Sunni Islam that follows the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. For the last 200 years, Sunnis often have looked to the example of the Darul Uloom madrassah located in Deoband near Delhi, India. The Deobandi school has long sought to purify Islam by discarding supposedly un-Islamic accretions to the faith and reemphasizing the models that it believes were established in the Qur'an and the customary practices of Muhammad. Additionally, Deobandi scholars often have opposed what they perceive as Western influences. Much of the population in Afghanistan adhered to Deobandi-influenced Hanafi Sunnism, but a sizable minority adhered to a more mystical version of Islam, generally known as Sufism. Sufism centers on orders or brotherhoods that follow charismatic religious leaders."

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Relations and conflicts between Shi'a, Sunnis and Hazaras ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21662]

"Relations between the different branches of Islam continued to be difficult. Historically, the minority Shi'a faced discrimination from the Sunni population. However, since Shi'a representation has increased in government, there was a decrease in hostility from Sunnis. Most Shi'a were members of the Hazara ethnic group, which traditionally has been segregated from the rest of society for a combination of political, ethnic, and religious reasons. Throughout the country's history, there have been many examples of conflicts between the Hazaras and other citizens. The Hazaras accused the Afghan government, led by a Pashtun President, of providing preferential treatment to Pashtuns and of ignoring minorities, especially Hazaras. Hazaras have reported being asked to pay additional bribes at Afghan border crossings where Pashtuns were allowed to pass freely. These conflicts often have had economic and political roots but also have religious dimensions. The government has made some public overtures to quell historical tensions affecting the Hazara community. In January 2007 it banned the Bollywood film Kabul Express, in which actors spoke several lines that were offensive to Afghanistan's Hazara community, characterizing the film as "anti-Afghan.""

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Shi’a generally free to participate fully in public life ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21663]

"The treatment of the Shi'a community varied by locality. Although some discrimination continued at the local level, Shi'a generally were free to participate fully in public life. The rigid policies adopted both by the Taliban and by certain opposition groups adversely affected adherents of other branches of Islam and other religious groups. The active persecution of the Shi'a minority, including Ismailis, which existed under the Taliban regime has ended."

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06.01.2004 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Shia Muslims, a religious minority making up 15% of the Afghan population, made important gains in the new constitution ("Shia Make Constitutional Gains") [#18622],  [ID 1101]

"Shia Muslims, a significant minority in Afghanistan, made important gains in the new constitution passed Sunday at the end of the Loya Jirga.

Unlike the previous constitution of 1964, when the king who then ruled Afghanistan had to be a follower of the Hanafi Sunni school of Islam, a Shia Muslim can now become leader of the country.

The qualifications for the president under the new constitution only require a candidate to be a Muslim.

It recognises in Article 131 that Shia – who represent perhaps 15 per cent of the population – can use their own school of law in court cases involving personal matters.

Sulaiman Muradi, a Shia from Bamian province, said, “This new constitution is very different compared with the last one. We Shias are very happy. In the last constitution we couldn’t become leader of Afghanistan, and in school we had to study the Sunni school of Islam. Now I truly consider myself a real Afghan.”"

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05.2003 - Source: US Commission on International Religious Freedom

Despite some discrimination active persecution of Shia minority has ended ("Report on Afghanistan") [#13728],  [ID 1102]

"Although some discrimination continues, the active persecution of Afghanistan’s Shi’a minority (perhaps 15 percent of the population)
that was perpetrated by the Taliban has ended, and Shi’a are once again able to perform their traditional processions and to participate in public life. A Shi’a Hazara, Mohammad Karim Khalili, is one of four Vice Presidents in the Afghanistan Transitional Administration. The Hazara have effective local autonomy in their home region around Bamiyan."

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07.03.2003 - Source: Danish Immigration Service

DIS: Situation of religious minorities such as the Shias as well as Hindus and Sikhs is generally good ("The Political, Security and Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan: Report on fact-finding mission to Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan and Islamabad, Pakistan; 22 September - 5 October 2002") [#11326],  [ID 1103]

"UNHCR-Kabul believed that the situation of religious minorities such as the Shias as well as Hindus and Sikhs is generally good. According to UNHCR-Kabul a very limited number of Sikhs have returned from Pakistan. It was a few women - widows - and the number of Sikhs in Afghanistan today is generally very limited. [...]
The EU's special representative also believed that the situation for Shias and non-Muslim groups such as Hindus and Sikhs is generally good today. However, there are very few people in Afghanistan today belonging to the two latter groups.
Similarly CCA said that today there is religious tolerance towards groups such as Shias, Ismaelis, Hindus and Sikhs as well as their right to practice their religion. According to CCA, the two latter groups have their own temples in Kabul. CCA had no reports of any harassment of the groups mentioned due to their religion from anywhere in Afghanistan. According to CCA, it is not permitted to convert from Islam to Christianity, and to do so carries the death penalty."

Document(s): Open document

09.08.2002 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

IWPR: Religious grudges said to be behind Hazara-Tajik hostility in Bamyan ("Militias Intimidate Refugees") [#8310],  [ID 1104]

"The continued presence of Hazara gunmen in the various districts of Bamyan has alarmed local residents and returning refugees who have complained vainly to the provincial governors and the Hizb-e-Wahadat leaders. They say the fighters are intimidating and show them little respect.
Khawaja Mohammad, a resident of the village of Dawti, says religious grudges – the Hazaras are Shi’a and the Tajiks are Sunni Muslims - are behind much of the hostility. “In some cases they even make fun of our religious elders, but we can’t say anything,” he said."

Document(s): Open document