Maqbool (Maqbool/Mahmud) Marhoon, a former professor at Kabul University, referring to the historical experience of the collapse of the Ottoman Caliphate, has said that some harsh religious edicts and unrealistic positions within the religious circles of that era, combined with the political changes of the time and foreign interventions, were among the factors that weakened the empire.
He explained, based on historical sources, that the Ottoman state, which for centuries had wielded extensive influence and controlled major Islamic centers, gradually faced a major wave of transformation as a result of internal divisions and intellectual rigidity changes that ultimately led to the establishment of a secular system in modern Turkey.
Marhoon also referred to a historical incident, stating that at that time some religious scholars supported incorrect legal rulings due to the presence of images on banknotes, and that such rigid interpretations had an impact on the political trajectory of society.
He adds that after the fall of the Ottoman Caliphate, Turkey moved toward a secular system for a prolonged period, and that this transformation is linked to the consequences of the religious and political actions of that era.
In his view, similar tendencies can also be observed in the current situation in Afghanistan. He claims that the implementation of restrictions and stringent regulations particularly regarding images, media, and smartphones conflicts with social realities and affects people’s daily lives.
These remarks come at a time when certain restrictions on media and technological activities have been imposed in Afghanistan by the Taliban, a development that has also drawn criticism from a number of political and academic figures.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
