Abdul Sami Ghaznavi, who spent nearly two decades teaching ideological and jihadist lessons in Taliban religious schools, has been released after one month in detention. He had been arrested by Taliban authorities following disagreements with the group’s leadership.
The move came after Ghaznavi declared that “jihad” in Pakistan was a personal obligation and stated, contrary to the position of Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, that the education of girls and women was permissible. These remarks reportedly angered senior Taliban officials and led to his arrest.
Ghaznavi’s official social media page announced his release on Wednesday, August 28, adding that he would soon resume his educational activities. The Taliban authorities have not commented on the reasons behind his detention or release.
The release of this figure, closely linked to the Taliban’s ideological base, once again highlights the group’s internal divisions and its handling of internal critics, particularly regarding the contentious issue of girls’ education, which remains a major point of international criticism and pressure on the Taliban.
