Freedom of religion in Afghanistan changed during the Islamic Republic installed in 2002 following a U.S.-led invasion that displaced the former Taliban government.
The Taliban imposed its interpretation of Islamic law, establishing a "Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice" for purposes of enforcement.
Persons found to be in violation of an edict were often subject to punishment meted out on the spot, which included beatings and detention.
The Deoband madrassa (religious school) near Delhi, India, has been a source of influence for these Sunni for approximately 200 years.
The Deoband school has long sought to "purify" Islam by discarding supposedly un-Islamic accretions to the faith and reemphasizing the models established in the Qur'an and Hadith.
The Taliban prohibited free speech about religious issues or discussions that challenge orthodox Sunni Muslim views.
[4] In May 2001, according to news reports, the Taliban considered an edict requiring Sikhs to wear identifying badges on their clothing.
A small number of foreign Christian groups were allowed in the country to provide humanitarian assistance; however, they were forbidden by the Taliban to proselytize.
On August 3, 2001, Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer were arrested by the Taliban along with 22 others for their work with Shelter Now, a Christian aid organization based in Germany.
On November 15, 2001, Curry and Mercer were freed by Operation Enduring Freedom forces, after the Taliban had fled Kabul.
There were many cases in which women were also treated badly if they were of other religion and if they also follow Islam then also they were considered prior then mans and not given equal rights .
A report in 2021 noted that despite some changes in government and society, the small communities of religious minorities (including Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Ahmadi Muslims and Baha'is) remained endangered, without the ability to observe their faith publicly for fear of violent reprisal.
In particular, religious, sectarian, and ethnic minorities including Shia Hazaras and Ahmadis had fled to neighbouring countries such as Iran and Pakistan.