A Specialised Thematic Conference

Organised by INSAN Foundation for Research and Media

February 11-12, 2025

Online

About the Conference:

The Majrooh Annual Conference, scheduled for February 11 and 12, is an online event commemorating both Professor Sayed Bahauddin Majrooh's birth anniversary and the day of his assassination. The conference is a tribute to his lifelong commitment to critical thinking, intellectual freedom, and the promotion of open dialogue in Afghan society— a commitment for which he was brutally assassinated. It celebrates his legacy and serves as a platform for new generations to advocate for intellectual freedom and engage in meaningful discussions through literature, philosophy, and cultural exchange.

In the face of increasingly oppressive measures imposed by the Taliban regime, including recent bans on hundreds of books and publications, heightened restrictions on free media, and hostility toward critical thinking and artistic expression, this conference highlights the urgent need to protect and promote freedom of creativity, inquiry, and expression.

The conference aims to foster meaningful dialogue, build solidarity, and uphold the principles of academic and intellectual freedom by bringing together scholars, thinkers, writers, and cultural figures from Afghanistan and beyond.

The two-day program will feature panel discussions covering multiple topics. Participants will share insights and explore strategies for addressing current challenges and uncertainties. By honouring Professor Majrooh's legacy, the conference also celebrates the strength, resilience and perseverance of the Afghan people, who continue to endure censorship, conflict, political and social challenges and obstacles, oppression, and utter global indifference.

FIRST ROUND– 2025

The State of Academia Under the Taliban Regime

The Systematic Suppression of Ideas and the Loss of Afghanistan’s Scholars

Under Taliban rule, schools, universities, and artistic endeavours in Afghanistan face unprecedented restrictions. This inaugural conference will critically examine how these policies disrupt academic life, restrict cultural expression, and systematically dismantle Afghan heritage and identity. Participants, ranging from scholars and authors to human rights advocates, will discuss the far-reaching consequences of these measures and explore strategies to preserve freedom of thought and creativity in the face of ongoing oppression.

Recently, the Taliban issued a list banning hundreds of books and publications, ordering them confiscated from bookstores across the country. Among these prohibited works is INSAN Magazine, a flagship publication of the INSAN Foundation for Research and Media, which was in circulation from 2013 until the Taliban returned in 2021. As the sole publication dedicated to humanistic ideas, pluralistic views, and critical thinking, its banning exemplifies the regime's efforts to suppress intellectual freedom.

The Majrooh Annual Conference aims to cultivate, promote, and nurture an atmosphere of shared understanding and collective responsibility by openly addressing the impact of censorship and cultural suppression. The goal is to shed light on these pressing challenges and inspire practical efforts to defend science and the arts in Afghanistan. Scholars, artists, and advocates from within and outside the country will share firsthand accounts, findings, and strategies, highlighting real-life challenges and actionable responses to these urgent issues.

Please read the complete agenda in English

Please read the complete agenda in Pashto

Please read the complete agenda in Dari