Kabul: The Taliban’s reclusive supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada urged the world to stop telling them how to run Afghanistan, insisting Sharia law was the only model for a successful Islamic state. Akhundzada, who has not been filmed or photographed in public since the Taliban returned to power in August, was addressing a major gathering of religious scholars in the Afghan capital called to rubber-stamp the hardline Islamist group’s rule.
Over 3,000 clerics have gathered in Kabul last week for the three-day men-only meeting, and Akhundzada’s appearance had been rumoured for days - although media are barred from covering the event. “Why is the world interfering in our affairs?” he asked in an hour-long speech broadcast by state radio.
“They say ‘why don't you do this, why don’t you do that?’ Why does the world interfere in our work?"
Akhundzada rarely leaves Kandahar, the Taliban’s birthplace and spiritual heartland, and apart from one undated photograph and several audio recordings of speeches, has almost no digital footprint. But analysts say the former Sharia court judge has an iron grip on the movement and bears the title “Commander of the Faithful”.
His arrival at the meeting hall was greeted with cheers and chants, including “Long live the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan”, the Taliban's name for the country. His appearance comes a week after a powerful earthquake struck the east of the country, killing over 1,000 people.
The Taliban have thrown a dense security blanket over the capital for the meeting, but two gunmen were shot dead near the venue.
Women not invited
Women were not invited to the gathering of religious scholars and tribal elders organized by Afghanistan's Taliban to address issues of national unity. This gathering was held at Loya Jigra Hall in Kabul. Afghan Uzbek political and Deobandi-Islamic religious leader Abdul Salam Hanafi said it was the first of its kind since the Taliban took over power in last August.
Religious leaders had asked for the gathering to address an Islamic system of government and economic and social issues. Different people with different views points were present at the gathering and was a positive step for stability in Afghanistan and strengthening national unity, Hanafi said. When asked why women would attend, he said “male delegates would represent women”.
