It seems that the divisions among the Taliban leadership, which controls power in Afghanistan, is beginning to become more evident.
In a rare phenomenon within the ranks of the militant movement, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani directed veiled criticism of the group’s supreme leader and its isolated and far from visible guide, Hebatullah Akhundzada. In a speech he delivered a few days ago, he considered that more responsibilities have been placed on the shoulders of the movement, since it assumed power, and therefore it has to show more patience.
They hate religion
He also saw that the Taliban should “calm the citizens, and act in a way that people do not hate and with it hate religion,” as he put it.
Although he did not refer to or name Akhundzadeh, nor did he allude from near or far to the issue of women’s education, many commentators and activists on the communication sites saw it as a “wink” from the top of the pyramid.
Movement leader Hebatullah Akhundzadeh (Reuters)
Especially since he had declared in the past, despite his strictness, that women and girls should be allowed to go to schools and universities.
Haqqani made the remarks in a speech delivered over the weekend at a graduation ceremony at an Islamic religious school in the eastern province of Khost.
In addition, he said, according to video clips from the speech he delivered a few days ago at a graduation ceremony in a religious school in the eastern province of Khost, which his supporters posted on social media, that “monopolizing power and harming the reputation of the entire system is not in our interest.” “This cannot be tolerated,” he added.
Taliban (AFP)
“not publicly”
Perhaps the comment of the government spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, formed the clearest reaction to Haqqani’s statements – without naming him – as he said that “it is better to direct criticism behind closed doors rather than publicly,” according to the Associated Press.
These Haqqani positions came weeks after the movement prevented universities from receiving girls, after it banned secondary schools from teaching them, on the pretext that they “do not respect the dress code” and “did not respect the instructions regarding the hijab,” referring to the obligatory covering of women’s head, face and body completely. .
From Kabul (AFP)
This caused an international uproar and fierce criticism, and increased Afghanistan’s isolation at a time when its economy was collapsing, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
It is noteworthy that despite the Taliban’s pledge, after its return to power in August 2021, to show greater flexibility towards some issues, including women’s education, it soon returned to the extremism that characterized its rule between 1996 and 2001.
It gradually excluded women from public life and removed them from jobs, after giving them low wages to entice them to stay at home.
Last November, the Taliban banned women from going to parks, gardens, gyms and public swimming pools.
It also prohibited them from roaming the streets without the escort of a male relative or Mahram, under penalty of persecution.
