Taliban Arrested Prominent Religious Scholar Bashir Ahmad Hanafi in Helmand
Tawazon, Helmand – Local sources in Helmand province report that Taliban has arrested a well-known religious scholar, Maulawi Bashir Ahmad Hanafi.
According to sources who spoke to Tawazon on condition of anonymity, Hanafi was detained on May 3rd, shortly after returning to Afghanistan from Egypt. He was reportedly arrested by the Taliban’s intelligence forces in Lashkargah, the capital of Helmand province.
While the exact reason for his arrest has not been officially disclosed, sources suggest that Maulawi Hanafi had frequently criticized the Taliban’s hardline policies—particularly their stance on girls’ education—through media interviews and posts on his social media platforms.
Maulawi Bashir Ahmad Hanafi is recognized as a prominent Islamic scholar, especially in southern Afghanistan. He had recently travelled to Egypt to pursue doctoral studies at Al-Azhar University. In Helmand, he also runs an educational center known as Muhassil.
So far, Taliban officials in Helmand have not issued any statement regarding his detention. However, Taliban has previously arrested and imprisoned other religious scholars and intellectuals who expressed dissenting views.
