Türkiye Educates the Taliban on Principles of Islamic Banking

Afghanistan’s Central Bank, under Taliban control, has announced that the Participation Banks Association of Turkiye conducted a three-day training programme for its employees.

According to a statement from the Taliban, the training focused on the principles of Islamic banking and Sharia-compliant financial products.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Taliban-controlled Central Bank explained that the programme aimed to enhance employee capabilities and facilitate the full implementation of Islamic banking in Afghanistan.

Sediqullah Khalid, deputy head of the bank, stated: “The Central Bank of Afghanistan has terminated interest-based transactions in the banking sector and is committed to establishing a complete Islamic banking system.”

He further added that all current banking transactions in Afghanistan are conducted in accordance with “Hanafi jurisprudence and without interest.”

The head of Afghanistan’s Central Bank has repeatedly appealed to international Islamic organisations and institutions to support the implementation of a fully Sharia-compliant banking system.

A defining feature of Islamic banking is the prohibition of “bank interest,” viewed as “usury” and deemed religiously illegitimate by the Taliban. Instead, financial activities are structured around profit-sharing and ethical investment principles.

This initiative comes at a time when Afghanistan’s banking system remains in disarray following the Taliban’s return to power. The country’s financial institutions continue to face significant challenges in restoring normal operations and facilitating international transactions.