The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) on November 24 announced the creation of a new administrative office called the Directorate for the Preservation of Jihadi Values.
Media reports say the Acting Minister of Information and Culture Khairullah Khairkhwa noted that the office is tasked with “keeping alive the values of jihad and its history.”
Ariana News reports that at a meeting with officials from the new directorate, Khairkhwa outlined its three main functions: producing audio-visual content; establishing a “jihadi museum”; and documenting historical events.
He reportedly stated that the museum would collect and archive artifacts from Afghanistan’s conflicts with Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States.
The Taliban said the museum would collect and archive artifacts from Afghanistan’s conflicts with Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States.
He stressed that jihadi museums will also be built in the capital, and in provinces, to collect and display works related to jihad.
Meanwhile, Amu says a report by the Middle East Institute previously warned that the Taliban’s emphasis on expanding religious education through an increasing number of jihadi madrassas could contribute to the rise of extremism.
The report cautioned that a new generation of militants, potentially “more dangerous” than the current Taliban leadership, might emerge as a result.
Since returning to power, the Taliban have prioritized establishing and expanding religious schools, as well as administering tests on “Emirate Studies.”
Amu notes that under the Taliban, the number of religious schools has reportedly risen to over 21,000 nationwide, with more than three million students enrolled. This equals the total number of schools countrywide.
This focus on religious education comes amid the Taliban’s continued ban on girls’ education beyond the sixth grade, a decision that has drawn widespread condemnation from the international community
