An Afghan government spokesman said the supreme leader of the Afghan Taliban made a rare public appearance on Wednesday, leading thousands of worshipers in Eid al-Fitr prayers, but the media was barred from taking pictures on the occasion.
Hibatullah Akhundzada has made only a handful of public appearances since assuming leadership of the Taliban in 2016 and returning the movement to power after the withdrawal of US forces in 2021.
Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said prayers at Kandahar’s largest mosque were “led by the Supreme Leader.”
In a statement on social media website X, he said that ‘thousands of compatriots attended’ the early morning worship in the southern province, considered the birthplace of the Taliban movement.
There is only one picture of Akhundzada. The press is generally barred from attending their public engagements, and Afghan participants are prohibited from taking photos or recording on their phones.
Earlier he appeared in public in Kandahar on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr in 2022 and delivered a speech in which he congratulated Afghans on ‘victory, freedom and success’.
The long-bearded Taliban emir rules by fatwa from Kandahar, and since the fall of the foreign-backed government has issued numerous orders to enforce the concept of Islam.
Kabul’s Ministry of Religious Affairs issued instructions on Tuesday for Afghanistan’s Imam to read aloud a message published by Akhundzada during the holy month of Ramadan.
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In it, Akhundzada urged Afghans to respect Sharia law and called for good relations with the international community.
The statement said that injustice and opposition to Sharia law lead to insecurity.
The third Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations under the Taliban regime were celebrated under tight security in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
As morning prayers began, additional checkpoints were set up around mosques, police and Taliban government security forces were deployed and mobile phone signals were disrupted.
Security forces prevented journalists from the French news agency AFP from recording at several locations in Kabul.
Nevertheless, worshipers gathered in thousands and took to the streets as mosques were filled to capacity.
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2024-09-07 09:58:58