Karzai’s Office Mosque Friday Sermons Omit Taliban Leader’s Name Despite Official Orders

Sources told Hasht-e Subh newspaper that during Friday prayers at the mosque of former Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s office, the name of Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban administration, is not mentioned. This act goes against the official directive of the Taliban regarding unified Friday sermons.

According to these sources, the decision was made under the direct guidance of Hamid Karzai, and the mosque’s imam at his office has not mentioned Hibatullah’s name in his sermons from the past until now.

This comes despite the Taliban’s Ministry of Guidance, Hajj, and Religious Endowments issuing a directive in November 2022, which established a uniform sermon text for Friday prayers throughout Afghanistan and made its recitation mandatory for all mosque imams.

According to this directive, mosque imams across the country’s provinces are required to compulsorily mention the name of Hibatullah Akhundzada in Friday sermons. This measure has prompted reactions and debates since its introduction about the direct interference of the Taliban administration in religious affairs.