KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Taliban authorities in Daikundi province have launched a campaign to collect books deemed “banned” for contradicting the group’s ideological principles.
In a recent statement, Sayed Mustafa Saleh, head of the Information and Culture Department in Daikundi, announced that books considered contrary to the regime’s principles and policies will be specifically targeted for confiscation.
Saleh stated that over the past two decades, various publications attributed to “foreign entities and local collaborators” aimed to “alter the minds of the youth,” which he claims undermines “Islamic principles and Afghan values.”
This is part of a broader trend, as the Taliban has previously conducted similar operations in other provinces, inspecting libraries and seizing certain books.
Recently, the Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education ordered the removal of materials conflicting with Hanafi jurisprudence from educational institutions and libraries in several provinces, including Kabul. Additionally, private universities have been instructed to eliminate religious texts that do not conform to the Sunni Hanafi sect, particularly those associated with the Shia sect.
A list of “undesirable” books obtained by KabulNow includes topics such as Shia Islam, democracy, political freedom, secularism, communism, and praise for jihadi figures like Ahmad Shah Masoud.
Over three years into their rule, the Taliban have severely restricted Shia religious practices, prohibited Ja’fari jurisprudence in universities, and denied Shia followers access to pilgrimage sites. They have also repealed the Personal Status Law for Shia Muslims, established in 2008, which allowed Shia individuals to manage legal, religious, and procedural matters according to Ja’fari principles.
Late last year, the Ministry of Higher Education instructed all private universities and educational institutions to clear their libraries of books deemed “contrary to Hanafi jurisprudence.” This directive also mandated the removal of political literature and any materials that could “create ideological problems.” Institutions were further instructed to replace these books with “appropriate literature on the biography of the Prophet,” with lists of replacement titles to be submitted for approval to the Ministry.
This recent campaign underscores the Taliban’s ongoing efforts to control cultural narratives and limit access to literature that conflicts with their ideological framework. Rights watchdogs and representatives from religious minority communities have accused the group of systemic discrimination and persecution against various social groups, including the Hazaras.