Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid. | Photo credit: AP
The supreme leader of the Taliban authorities said in a speech marking the third anniversary of their return to power that implementing Islamic law in Afghanistan is their “lifelong responsibility”.
The Taliban government celebrated its capture of the capital on August 15, 2021, a day earlier on Wednesday (August 15, 2024) according to the Afghan calendar and held military parades and gatherings across the country.
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“Brothers! Serving the religion, ruling according to Sharia (Islamic law) is our lifelong responsibility,” leader Hibatullah Akhundzada told security personnel at an air base in southern Kandahar on Wednesday (August 15, 2024).
The speech was posted on the social media site X (formerly Twitter) by chief government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid late on Wednesday (August 15, 2024).
“As long as we are alive, we will enforce Allah’s religion and Sharia rule for ourselves and others,” Akhundzada said, rare remarks from the reclusive leader who almost never appears in public.
He said, “Sharia and Islamic system is getting stronger day by day.”
Akhundzada rules by decree from Kandahar — the birthplace of the Taliban movement — and has issued a series of edicts enforcing his harsh view of Islam since the fall of the foreign-backed government and the withdrawal of US-led forces in 2021.
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The Taliban government has not yet been recognised by any other country, with a major issue being the restrictions it imposes on women, which the United Nations has called “gender apartheid”.