The Taliban’s reclusive supreme leader made a rare public appearance yesterday, an Afghan government spokesman said, leading thousands of worshipers in prayers marking Eid al-Fitr.
Hibatullah Akhundzada has made only a handful of public appearances since inheriting the leadership of the Taliban in 2016 and leading the movement back to power with the withdrawal of US forces in 2021.
Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said prayer in the largest mosque in Kandahar was “performed under the leadership of the supreme leader.”
Photo: AFP
In a statement on X, he said the early-morning service “was attended by thousands of compatriots” in the southern province considered the birthplace of the Taliban movement.
An Agence France-Presse (AFP) source who attended the service said worshipers did not see Akhundzada making his speech, but a voice over a loudspeaker introduced the sermon as his words.
Thousands gathered in the mosque courtyard, the source said, with tight security preventing them from entering the main building of the worship hall.
There is only one photograph of Akhundzada. The press have generally been barred from attending his public engagements and Afghan attendees forbidden from taking photographs or recording on their phones.
He previously appeared in Kandahar marking 2022’s Eid al-Fitr with a speech congratulating Afghans “on victory, freedom and success,” his back to the crowd to preserve his anonymity.
The bearded “Emir” of the Taliban rules by decree from Kandahar, and has handed down a string of orders enforcing an austere vision of Islam since the collapse of the foreign-backed government.
The Afghan Ministry of Hajj and Islamic Affairs issued instructions that during yesterday’s prayer imams should read out a message published by Akhundzada earlier in the holy month of Ramadan.
In it, Akhundzada urged Afghans to respect Shariah law and called for good relations with the international community.
“Injustice and being opposed to Shariah leads to insecurity,” the statement said.
In Kabul, the third Eid al-Fitr festivities under the Taliban government were marked under heightened security. Extra checkpoints were erected around mosques as morning prayers began, with police and Taliban government security forces deployed and mobile phone signals disrupted.
Security forces prevented AFP journalists from recording services at numerous sites in Kabul.
Nonetheless, worshipers gathered in the thousands, spilling out into the streets as mosques were packed to capacity.
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