KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Sources at Herat University say that the Taliban have distributed a pledge form, asking students of the university to commit to following the Hanafi (a major Sunni Islamic school of jurisprudence founded by Imam Abu Hanifa) school of thought and obeying the system and orders of the Taliban.
According to the sources, this pledge was distributed among students this morning (Saturday, April 18), and it has been stated that signing it is mandatory.
In the sixth clause of this pledge, a copy of which has been obtained by KabulNow newspaper, it is stated: “Given that the people of Afghanistan are from Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah and followers of the school of Imam Abu Hanifa, I also follow this school in order to preserve unity and solidarity.”
Other clauses of this pledge state that the student must commit to performing prayers on time and in congregation, growing a beard in accordance with the Sunnah, not walking bareheaded at the university, wearing “Islamic and Afghan attire” at the university, refraining from listening to music and songs, not using images of living beings, respecting the laws and orders of the Taliban, and not having ties with any political group other than the Taliban.
According to this pledge, if a student violates any of its provisions, they will have no right to complaint against any punishment determined by the university.
Previously, it has been reported that the Taliban have distributed similar pledge forms in several other public universities across the country and have asked students to commit to not following any school of thought other than the Hanafi school.
This comes while many students and university professors in the country are followers of the Shia school as well as other branches of the four Sunni schools.
Since regaining control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have declared the Hanafi school as the only official school in the country and have removed official recognition of the Shia school.
Officials of the group have also repeatedly called on people to follow only the Hanafi school and, in multiple instances, have imposed restrictions on the religious freedom of followers of other sects, including Shias.
This development has raised concerns among observers and rights advocates, who warn that such measures could deepen religious divisions and further limit academic freedom and diversity within Afghanistan’s higher education system.
This comes as, one week earlier, armed individuals attacked Shiites in the Deh Miry area of Injil district in Herat at around 3:00 PM on Friday afternoon, shooting them dead.
The Taliban’s Department of Information and Culture in Herat said that 11 people were killed and eight others were injured in the attack, while the Ministry of Interior reported seven dead and 13 injured. So far, no individual or group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Previously, a London-based human rights group (Rawadari) had warned that a newly approved Taliban criminal code formalized discrimination against religious minorities, restricted fundamental freedoms, and allowed arbitrary detention and punishment.
The group, Rawadari, said it had obtained a copy of the “Criminal Procedures Code of the Taliban Courts,” which had been approved by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and distributed to judicial bodies for implementation. According to the group, the code, consisting of multiple sections and articles, conflicted with international human rights standards and failed to guarantee basic fair trial rights, including access to legal defense, the right to remain silent, and protection against unjust punishment.
Rawadari had also highlighted provisions in the code that classified non-Hanafi Sunni Muslims and followers of other beliefs as “innovators,” a designation that targeted religious minorities such as Shia Muslims, Ismailis, Sikhs, and Hindus.
The group further warned that certain clauses labeled “rebels” as beyond reform without execution and allowed individuals to punish perceived moral violations, raising concerns about potential extrajudicial actions against critics and opponents without due process.
In addition, Amnesty International has also warned that the new criminal regulation approved by the Taliban could escalate violence and discrimination against women and minority groups, with serious implications for human rights across the country.
According to Amnesty, the regulation puts minority groups at heightened risk. It imposes severe penalties for religious non-compliance, targeting beliefs outside the Taliban’s Sunni interpretation, and allows arbitrary enforcement. The group warned that this could institutionalize discrimination, leaving minorities vulnerable to persecution and restricting their freedoms.
