Taliban Mandates Oral Faith Exams at Afghanistan Universities

DID Press: Afghanistan’s Taliban-led Ministry of Higher Education has ordered public and private universities, as well as teaching hospitals, to conduct mandatory oral examinations on Islamic beliefs for students and staff.

According to an official directive issued on 8 July, the ministry’s Department of Dawah and Guidance instructed higher education institutions to prepare all employees and students for oral examinations covering the texts Iman-e-Mujmal and Iman-e-Mufassal, two traditional summaries of Islamic creed.

The directive requires universities and teaching hospitals to organize the examinations and ensure the participation of all academic staff and students.

The ministry also warned that the names of individuals who refuse to participate or fail to cooperate with the examination process will be reported to the Department of Dawah and Guidance. It said disciplinary measures would be taken against those found in violation of applicable academic and administrative regulations.

The order applies to staff and students across both public and private higher education institutions, making religious assessment a mandatory component of Afghanistan’s university system.

The measure comes as the Taliban authorities continue to introduce sweeping changes to Afghanistan’s higher education sector following their return to power, including curriculum revisions and an expanded emphasis on religious instruction.