Former Afghanistan Minister Criticizes Clerics Over Muslim World Decline

Speaking in an interview with Sufi Podcast, Jahani said history, religion and Islamic texts themselves show that clerics have often contributed to conflict and social stagnation.

He also linked Afghanistan's current crisis to the influence of religious leaders, saying the country's longstanding problems were largely connected to their role in politics and society.

Afghanistan continues facing severe economic and humanitarian challenges, with millions of people dependent on international aid amid widespread unemployment, poverty and restrictions on public freedoms.

Religious clerics currently hold dominant influence across Afghanistan's political and judicial institutions under Taliban rule, while critics argue that rigid religious governance has contributed to social isolation and deepening internal crises.

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed wide-ranging restrictions on women, media, education and civil society, drawing criticism from Afghan activists, religious scholars and international organizations.

Critics of the Taliban say the group's strict interpretation of Islam has deepened Afghanistan's economic isolation, worsened social restrictions and contributed to growing concerns over human rights and governance.

Afghanistan has experienced decades of conflict, restrictions and political instability linked to the rise of extremist groups and hardline religious movements across the country.
Jahani is widely known in Afghanistan as the writer of the country's former national anthem and as one of the best-known contemporary Pashto literary figures.

Debates over the role of clerics and religion in governance have remained highly sensitive in Afghanistan, where decades of war and political instability have frequently involved religious factions and militant movements.

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