Taliban Prevents Shiites in Kabul from Holding Eid al-Fitr Prayers on Saturday, Eyewitnesses Say

Taliban forces stationed themselves at the entrances of Shiite mosques in Kabul, including Dasht-e Barchi and west Kabul, preventing Shiites from holding Eid al-Fitr prayers on Saturday, according to eyewitnesses.

An eyewitness from Kabul's sixth district said: "The Taliban do not allow Shiites to enter the mosques."

Another eyewitness from Dasht-e Barchi reported that Taliban forces prevented the holding of Eid prayers on Saturday.

Most Shiites in Afghanistan observed Eid al-Fitr on Saturday, following declarations by religious authorities including Ali Sistani, who has followers in the country. The Taliban had declared Thursday as Eid al-Fitr and instructed Shiites to celebrate and pray on that day. Shiite clerics stated that determining the Eid date follows religious authorities.

Sources said the Taliban previously arrested a number of Shiite clerics. The Taliban has not commented officially on the matter.

Followers of the Shia faith in countries including Iran, Pakistan and Iraq also marked Saturday as the first day of Eid al-Fitr.