Local sources from the eastern provinces of Afghanistan reported that following the Taliban’s takeover of power, Salafis, along with other religious sects in Afghanistan, have faced restrictions.
Sources reported that the Taliban has decided to dismiss Salafi clerics from their positions as mosque imams.
Restrictions On Salafis
One of the restrictions imposed by the Taliban is that no Salafi religious leader is allowed to lead prayers in mosques or other places. Sources have informed Afghanistan International that the Taliban has advised Salafis against performing “Raf’ al-Yadain” (raising hands during prayer when saying Takbeer) and not to say “Ameen” loudly after Surah Al-Fatiha during prayers.
Raf’ al-Yadain refers to the practice of raising hands during prayer when saying Takbeer. While this practice is common among followers of certain Islamic sects, there is disagreement among juristic schools about whether it is obligatory or merely recommended. The Taliban, who predominantly follow the Hanafi school of thought, oppose Raf’ al-Yadain and the loud recitation of Ameen during prayer.
In addition, sources report that several Salafi missionary centers and groups have also faced restrictions, with instructions to refrain from spreading Salafism among the population.
Salafis are more prominent in the eastern provinces of Afghanistan, particularly in Kunar, which is one of the main centres of Salafi presence in the region.
In Afghanistan, Salafis are referred to by various names. Some call them “Ahl al-Hadith,” while others refer to them as “Wahhabis”.
Leader of Salafis in Afghanistan
During Daoud Khan’s rule, Salafis began their efforts to promote Salafi Islam in Kunar province and even established special madrassas to teach the sect. At the time, the influence of the Panchpiria sect was stronger, and some Salafi scholars had graduated from Panchpiria madrassas.
One of these scholars was Sheikh Jamil al-Rahman, known at the time as Mawlawi Muhammad Hussain. Born in the Dara-i-Pech district of Kunar, he studied at the Panchpiria madrassa. He worked to spread the influence of Salafi Islam throughout Kunar.
Shah Mahmood Miakhel, former governor of Nangarhar, noted that initially, there were intense conflicts between the followers of Salafi and Hanafi Islam in Kunar. However, due to Rahman’s ethnic influence, the number of Salafis grew.
Miakhel added that after Kunar, Salafism expanded into Nuristan, where a man named Mullah Rabbani connected with Rahman and began efforts to promote Salafi Islam.
Rahman joined the Jihad against Soviet forces alongside the Mujahideen and joined Hezb-e-Islami, led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, taking up arms. Sources revealed that in the 1980s, he received financial support from Arab countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, to promote Salafi Islam. In 1986, he established a political group called “Jamaat al-Dawah ila al-Quran wal-Sunnah”. With this support, religious schools and mosques were built for Salafis, particularly in Kunar, playing a pivotal role in spreading the sect throughout eastern Afghanistan.
During the civil wars, Rahman migrated to Bajaur, Pakistan, where he continued his activities until his death. In 1991, he was killed by an Egyptian journalist named Abdullah Rumi in Bajaur, Pakistan.
Following Rahman’s death, the Salafis appointed his nephew, Rohullah Wakil, as his successor.
Rohullah Wakil: From Saving Arabs to Guantanamo Prison
Rohullah Wakil did not have an extensive religious education, but Salafis chose him as the successor to Jamil-ur-Rahman. In 2001, Wakil fought alongside US forces against the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
According to WikiLeaks, in 2003, Wakil was arrested by US forces in Nangarhar for allegedly aiding in the smuggling of Arabs and al-Qaeda militants. Sources told Afghanistan International that Wakil, a Salafi leader in the eastern provinces of Afghanistan, particularly Kunar, built numerous schools and mosques for his followers, spreading Salafi Islam to more areas.
These activities were reportedly supported by financial contributions from some Arab countries. Wakil was released from Guantanamo prison in 2008, but in the final years of the previous Afghan government, he was arrested again based on intelligence reports from the National Directorate of Security.
Sources informed Afghanistan International that he was detained on charges of links to terrorists but was released after pressure from some members of the parliament.
The Guardian newspaper reported that Wakil was allegedly involved in drug trafficking and had strong connections not only with Britain, but also with Pakistan. However, Wakil has repeatedly denied these accusations in media interviews. After the Taliban regained power, he left Afghanistan and relocated to Pakistan with his family.
A video obtained by Afghanistan International shows Wakil delivering a speech in November 2024 at a Salafi religious gathering in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where he described the situation of Salafi followers in Afghanistan as “worrying”. In his address, he mentioned the mysterious killings of Salafi religious scholars and followers under the Taliban’s rule, calling for the ruling group to ensure their security. Wakil also urged Salafis to engage in religious debates with gentleness and to avoid violence.
Assassinations of Key Salafi Members
In Jalalabad city, a prominent madrassa called “Naranj Bagh” had thousands of students. The previous government’s intelligence services arrested some leaders of this madrassa, accusing them of links to ISIS. Shah Mahmood Miakhel, former governor of Nangarhar, confirmed that some students from the school joined ISIS and fought on the battlefronts.
Sheikh Sardar Wali Saqib, the head of the madrassa, was a well-known figure among Salafis. However, the Taliban imposed restrictions on the madrassa and its members. On July 13, 2022, Sardar Wali was mysteriously killed inside his house in Kabul by a knife attack. The perpetrators remain unknown.
All religious scholars from Naranj Bagh were dismissed, and teaching Salafi religious texts was banned. The Taliban replaced them with Hanafi scholars. According to Afghanistan International, at least 30 prominent Salafi religious scholars have been killed by unknown assailants in provinces such as Kunduz, Kapisa, and Kabul.
Reports indicated that in the past three and a half years, several unknown bodies have been discovered in Nangarhar Canal, with some Salafi students allegedly killed due to their suspected connections with ISIS. These killings intensified during the tenure of Dr Bashir, the former head of Taliban intelligence in Nangarhar. Sources claim that Bashir, who played a key role in the Taliban's battle against ISIS, carried out harsh actions against suspected ISIS members.
Restrictions on Salafi Activities and Increased Surveillance
Taliban intelligence in Kunar and Nuristan provinces has placed Salafi religious scholars under strict surveillance, banning public religious speeches. Shah Mahmood Miakhel emphasised that while some students from Salafi madrassas have joined ISIS, not all Salafis are connected to the terrorist group. He pointed out that simply studying at a Salafi school or following Salafi Islam doesn’t imply any ties to ISIS.
Additionally, the Taliban's Ministry of Higher Education recently dismissed 12 professors from Kunar University due to their Salafi leanings. The Taliban has also shut down several Salafi religious madrassas and imposed restrictions on the leadership of Salafi scholars.
During Ramadan last year, the Taliban made it mandatory to increase the number of Rak’ahs for Tarawih prayers from 8 to 20 and prohibited saying "Ameen" aloud after Surah Al-Fatiha during prayers.
Some Salafi followers, fearing retaliation, have concealed their identities. While many believe ordinary Salafi followers have no connection to political or military groups, the Taliban remains suspicious of them. Miakhel also noted that the Taliban often labels ordinary people as ISIS members without evidence.
These restrictions have forced many Salafi followers in eastern Afghanistan to hide their religious practices and identities, seeking to avoid becoming targets of the Taliban. As the majority of the Taliban are Hanafi followers, some fear that escalating pressure on Salafi followers could eventually lead to sectarian conflict.