Human rights and religious freedom in Afghanistan have deteriorated since the Taliban regained control in 2021, and expert panelists testified during a March 19 hearing that the situation could get worse.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom convened the virtual hearing on “Religious Freedom Conditions in Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan.” Commission Chair Stephen Schneck and Vice Chair Meir Solveichik moderated the hearing.
RELATED: Check out more stories on the persecuted church.
In his introductory remarks, Schneck observed the Taliban intensified its “crackdown” on religious minorities last year, enacting edicts to severely limit the religious freedom of all people in Afghanistan — including Muslims who hold to less-restrictive interpretations of Sharia.
The edicts “disproportionately impacted Afghan women and girls,” subjecting them to arbitrary arrest, forced disappearance and harassment, he said.
At the same time, Islamic State-Khorasan Province targeted religious minorities, such as the Hazara Shi’a people, he added.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Ken Camp and originally published by Baptist Standard.
