Taliban Official Ans Haqqani Urges Religious Scholars to Avoid Hatred and Misuse of Authority

Ans Haqqani, a senior figure within the Taliban administration, stated at a religious school in Khost province that power and governance in Afghanistan are now in the hands of religious scholars. However, he emphasized that they must not misuse this position. He stressed that scholars should not approach others with hateful attitudes or limit their religious responsibilities to a specific region or country. According to him, the message of Islam should be conveyed correctly and universally to the world. The Taliban official also added that conveying the true message of Islam is impossible without acquiring knowledge and awareness, and scholars should focus on learning in addition to their social status. These remarks come amid criticism accusing the Taliban administration of instrumentalizing religion and restricting diverse Islamic interpretations, with calls for scholars to play a more responsible role regarding rights, diversity of viewpoints, and societal needs.