Shia Islam in Afghanistan

Shia Islam in Afghanistan is practiced by a minority of the population; estimates vary from 13%[2] to 15%[3][4] or 20%.[5] Afghan Shia are primarily the Twelvers, while a minority are Ismailis.

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Religion in Afghanistan
Majority
Sunni Islam
Minority
Historic/Extinct
Controversy
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Masjid Jame in Kabul during construction in 2008, the largest Shia mosque in Afghanistan.[1]

Twelvers

The majority of Afghan Shia are Twelvers, primarily of the Hazara ethnicity. The next-largest Twelver community are the Farsiwan of the western Herat and Farah provinces. Other, far smaller, Afghan Twelver communities include the Bayat and Qizilbash populations, as well as some of those who claim to be Sayeds.

Ismailis

A smaller portion of Afghan Shia are Nizari Ismailis; these populations include many of the Pamir language speakers of the northeastern portion of the country (predominantly in Badakhshan Province bordering Tajikistan).

Baghlan Province is also home to an Ismaili community, the Sayeds of Kayan. Their leader is Sayed Mansur Naderi and his son, Sayed Jaffar Naderi.[6] During the Soviet–Afghan War, about 10,000 Ismaili militiamen defended the Baghlan Ismaili stronghold of Kayan. They struck a deal with the Soviets in not attacking them, but logistically supported the Mujahideen.[7] In 2003 it was reported that unlike other Ismaili communities in the region and worldwide, the Baghlan Ismailis did not defer to the spiritual leader of Ismailis worldwide, the Aga Khan.[6]

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See also

References
  1. Hashimi, Zar (2010-06-22). "Masjid Jame, Kabul | Zar Hashimi". Flickr. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
  2. "Chapter 1: Religious Affiliation". The World’s Muslims: Unity and Diversity. Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. August 9, 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  3. "Country Profile: Afghanistan" (PDF). Library of Congress Country Studies. August 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2005-02-26. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  4. "Afghanistan". Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  5. Waheed Massoud (6 December 2011). "Why have Afghanistan's Shias been targeted now?". BBC News. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  6. Hindokosh, May 2003. Cited in "Afghanistan: Information on activities of Ismailis loyal to Sayed Kayan". United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. 7 July 2004. Archived from the original on 2016-03-12.
  7. Michael V. Bhatia; Mark Sedra (2008). Afghanistan, Arms and Conflict: Armed Groups, Disarmament and Security in a Post-War Society. Psychology Press. pp. 252–. ISBN 978-0-415-45308-0. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
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