Religious Freedom in Afghanistan: One Year Since the Taliban Takeover

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing

Religious Freedom in Afghanistan: One Year Since the Taliban Takeover

Wednesday, August 24, 2022
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM ET
Virtual Hearing

Hearing Transcript

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held a virtual hearing that examined Afghanistan’s freedom of religion or belief under the Taliban’s rule since its takeover of the country in August 2021. The hearing also highlighted opportunities for U.S. policy to support vulnerable Afghans.

The Taliban’s imposition of their narrow interpretation of Sunni Islam on all of society poses a grave threat to Afghans who interpret Islam differently, who hold a different faith, or who choose to have no faith at all. In addition, despite continued promises to protect all ethnic and religious communities residing in Afghanistan, the Taliban de facto government has been unable to protect religious minorities against attacks from Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K). While some religious minority communities face the threat of extinction, others struggle to practice their faith in hiding due to fear of reprisal.

Witnesses documented religious freedom conditions throughout the country under Taliban rule, discussed current U.S. policy, and shared recommendations for the U.S. government to support religious freedom in Afghanistan.

Opening Remarks

• Nury Turkel, Chair, USCIRF
  Written Remarks
• Abraham Cooper, Vice Chair, USCIRF
  Written Remarks

Panel

• Fereshta Abbasi, Researcher, Asia Division, Human Rights Watch
  Written Testimony
• Anne Richard, Afghanistan Coordination Lead, Freedom House; former Assistant Secretary of State, Population, Refugees and Migration, U.S. Department of State
  Written Testimony
• Joseph Azam, U.S. Policy Advisor and Board Chair, Afghan American Foundation

Witnesses' Bios