The Taliban’s Ministry of the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice announced on Friday that it had detained Sufi leader Ibrahim Gailani, a senior figure in the Qadiri order, along with several of his followers, in what observers say is the latest crackdown on religious diversity in Afghanistan.
Saif Khyber, spokesperson for the ministry, accused Gailani of “misusing Sufism” and engaging in “practices contrary to Sharia under the cover of religion.” He said the ministry was tasked with the “intellectual and ideological reform of society” to prevent the spread of “false ideas and misguided beliefs.”
In an official statement, the ministry declared: “Every faithful Muslim is obliged to protect society from practices that contradict the principles of Sharia and the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. Afghanistan is an Islamic country where all citizens are Muslims and followers of the Hanafi school.”
The claim, however, fails to reflect Afghanistan’s longstanding religious diversity. The country is home to Shia Muslims, Ismailis, and small Hindu and Sikh minorities. Since regaining power in August 2021, the Taliban has revoked recognition of other sects and faiths, further shrinking space for religious pluralism.
Khyber also published on his social media account a letter bearing Gailani’s signature, in which the Sufi leader pledged not to engage in “acts of vice” and vowed to bring his conduct in line with Sharia. The letter stated Gailani would “have no right to complain” if he violated the pledge. It remains unclear whether Gailani was released after signing the document.
The ministry further warned that it would not permit the “misuse of religion or Sufism” for activities deemed contrary to Islamic law.
The move comes amid a broader Taliban campaign over the past four years to suppress religious practices and interpretations that challenge its ideology. Salafis in particular have been targeted, with residents in some provinces alleging they were pressured to abandon their faith or convert.Sayed Mohammad Ibrahim Gailani, widely known as Pir Ibrahim Baba, is the nephew of Pir Sayed Ahmad Gailani, the former head of the Qadiri Sufi order. The Gailani family traces its lineage to Abdul Qadir Gailani, the 12th-century founder of the Qadiri Sufi order.
Sayed Ahmad Gailani, a former jihadist commander, later served as head of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council during the National Unity Government before his death in January 2017.
This is not the first time the Taliban has targeted Ibrahim Gailani. He was previously detained in July 2022 in Paktia province, reflecting what many see as a continued effort by the group to silence influential religious voices outside its rigid Hanafi framework.
