Mullah Conference brings religious leaders together to discuss plans for reaching community

Photo By Sgt. Joel Guerra | A disabled man, whose young daughters used to pull him around in a dilapidated wheelchair, receives a new wheelchair after the Mullah Conference, Dec. 7, at the Zharay District Center. The wheelchair was donated by a non-profit organization that builds free wheelchairs in developing nations.  

ZHARAY DISTRICT, AFGHANISTAN

12.09.2011

Story by Capt. Kevin Sandell 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

ZHARAY DISTRICT, KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Mullahs from eastern Zharay district, along with senior leaders from the 3rd Brigade, 205th Afghan Army Corps, gathered for the second Mullah Conference held at the Zharay District Center, Dec. 7, to leverage their collective influence to both Taliban insurgents and Afghan children.

The four religious leaders – two from the Dasht Camp north of Highway-1, one from Makuan, and one from Ashoque – were joined by Lt. Col. Agalalay, the deputy commander of the 3rd Brigade, 205th Corps, and Lt. Col. Abdul Ghani, the Religious Cultural Adviser to the 3rd Brigade, to discuss ways to spread the message of peace and reintegration to the people of Zharay district. The governor of Zharay district, Niaz Sarhadi, also addressed the group.

The conference began with a lunch, and then progressed into speeches from the district governor, Afghan Army leaders, and each of the mullahs. Aziz Zullah, a mullah from the Zharay Dasht Camp who is also a school teacher in the camp, emphasized the importance of educating Afghan youth about Islam, because many teenagers are drawn to the Taliban, because they misinterpret the Quran.

Additionally, the mullahs and Afghan army leaders agreed to reach out to insurgents operating in the area to leverage a religious angle about turning in their weapons and beginning the reintegration process.

Reintegration is an Afghan-led process that allows former insurgents to lay down their weapons, and then make a peaceful transition back into their communities. Reintegrees must complete the entire process to be eligible for monetary and employment benefits.

At the conclusion of the conference, Afghan police officers and soldiers distributed humanitarian aid items like blankets, clothing, shoes, hand crank radios, and even pre-fabricated wheelchairs to the mullahs who would then distribute the items to their respective communities. The wheelchairs were donated by the Free Wheelchair Mission, a non-profit organization that builds free wheelchairs and distributes them to give disabled residents freedom of movement in developing nations.

Coalition forces’ leaders from Combined Task Force Spartan believe the Mullah Conference will inspire other mullahs to come forward and work with Afghan and coalition forces to influence their communities. Afghan officials plan on scheduling a third conference in the early spring timeframe.

• Date Taken: 12.09.2011
• Date Posted: 12.11.2011 06:56
• Story ID: 81194
• Location: ZHARAY DISTRICT, AF