Madrasas (Islamic Religious Schools)
Monitoring madrassas is crucial to safeguard a generation from the influence of extremism, which has major implications for Afghanistan and beyond.
Feb 04, 2024 – Madrasas Pipeline. Intelligence reports indicate that over 1 million Taliban members are studying in madrasas, with 500,000 graduates expected in three years, trained in “Islam without borders” https://www.afintl.com/202401229182
Feb 16, 2024 – Mandatory Islamic Indoctrination for Academics. The Taliban are implementing Islamic teaching programs for university professors in Balkh, aligning higher education more closely with madrassa-style ideology. https://www.afintl.com/202402221360
Feb 28, 2024 – Sexual Abuse of Children in Madrasas. UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett reports on violence and sexual exploitation of children in certain religious schools, highlighting that abusive teachers often act with impunity. https://afintl.com/202402295698
March 14, 2024 – Taliban Expand Madrassa Network The Taliban have announced the expansion of madrasas throughout Afghanistan. https://x.com/TOLOnews/status/1766045823823921183
April 23, 2024 – Public Schools Converted into Madrasas At least 25 secondary schools for girls and boys in Badakhshan and Takhar have been converted into religious schools/madrasas, as part of a curriculum overhaul. https://8am.media/eng/education-curriculum-overhaul-taliban-convert-25-schools-to-madrasas-in-takhar-and-badakhshan-provinces/
April 25, 2024 – Taliban Claim 15,000 State-Funded Madrasas The Taliban informed the UN that there are 15,000 madrasas, all funded by the national budget, featuring religion-heavy curricula with limited emphasis on “modern sciences.” https://www.sigar.mil/pdf/quarterlyreports/2024-01-30qr-section2.pdf#page=25
Aug 30, 2024 – Analysis of Taliban Madrasas by Former Minister. A former Afghan education minister, quoted in The Telegraph, connects the Taliban’s closure of girls’ schools to a strategic shift towards madrassa-centered education. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/taliban-sends-daughters-school-despite-closing-classrooms-female/
Sep 03, 2024 – Madrasa Teaching Extremism in Nangarhar. A report highlights a religious school (“Tartil-ul-Quran”) in Nangarhar that specializes in teaching violence to its students. https://8am.media/fa/pakistani-media-a-school-in-nangarhar-teaches-suicide-attack-for-students/
Sep 11, 2024 – Taliban Claim 21,000 Madrasas Nationwide. The Taliban announced that the number of religious schools has reached 21,000 across Afghanistan. https://www.afintl.com/202409111147
Madrassa Child Speaking of Violence A video features a madrassa student discussing violence and militant themes. https://x.com/i/status/1830899112851710316
Harsh Conditions for Madrassa Children A video depicts the poor, harsh living and study conditions faced by madrassa children. https://x.com/i/status/1831288095909535800
General Article on Taliban Madrasas An analytical piece explores the role and spread of madrasas under Taliban rule. https://8am.media/fa/4066-2/
Boys’ Schools Turned into Training Grounds A report describes how the Taliban are transforming boys’ schools into violent training institutions, effectively functioning as madrasas. https://thewalrus.ca/the-taliban-are-turning-boys-schools-into-jihadist-training-grounds/
What Girls Learn in Religious Schools A report examines girls’ experiences in religious schools, focusing on burqa, silence, forced marriage, and ideological indoctrination instead of modern education. https://8am.media/fa/burqa-silence-and-forced-marriage-what-do-girls-learn-in-religious-schools/
Ghazni: Madrassas Surge from 30 to 700+ A provincial education official in Ghazni reports that the number of madrassas increased from around 30 to over 700.
Mullah Baradar on Building Madrasas Mullah Baradar states that the Taliban are establishing madrasas and reforming curricula, reinforcing a madrassa-centered system. https://www.etilaatroz.com/215176/
Hibatullah’s Pre-Power Speech on Closing Schools and Expanding Madrasas An old recording features Mullah Hibatullah discussing support for closing modern schools, increasing madrasas, banning photos/videos, and declaring modern sciences haram. https://x.com/ZawiaNews/status/1848708962713055305