Afghan Shia Figure Sayed Sufi Gardizi Reportedly Missing After Transfer to Taliban Justice Ministry

DID Press: Sayed Sufi Gardizi, a prominent Afghan Shia figure, has reportedly gone missing after being summoned to the office of the Taliban-appointed governor of Kabul and allegedly transferred to the Taliban Ministry of Justice, according to eyewitnesses and local sources.

The sources said a meeting of Shia scholars, elders and community figures was being held in Kabul on Sunday when the Taliban-appointed governor of Kabul contacted Gardizi and asked him to come to his office.

According to the witnesses, Gardizi went to the governor’s office but was not seen there afterward. They alleged that individuals linked to the Taliban’s justice minister were present at the office and later transferred him to the Ministry of Justice.

The witnesses said they have received no reliable information about Gardizi’s condition or whereabouts since the reported transfer.

The allegations come amid previous reports of pressure and detention of prominent Shia figures by the Taliban’s Ministry of Justice. In June, Afghan media reported that Gardizi and several other Shia figures were detained for several hours at the ministry after seeking the release of Shia worshippers arrested during Muharram ceremonies.

Gardizi has previously appeared in official Taliban meetings with Shia scholars and community leaders. In August 2025, he spoke at a meeting with the Taliban prime minister’s chief of staff and expressed support for engagement with the Taliban administration.

The latest reports also allege that some individuals previously summoned to the justice minister’s office were subsequently detained. These claims, however, have not been independently verified.

As of Sunday, no official statement from the Taliban authorities confirming Gardizi’s detention, transfer or current whereabouts has been found. The Ministry of Justice’s official website provides no public information concerning the case.