Taliban official calls opposition to group’s rule ‘warranting death’
Nadeem has described opposition to Taliban rule as ‘warranting death.’
In his latest remarks, the acting minister of higher education in the Taliban administration said opposition to the administration’s desired ‘Islamic system’ was illegitimate, adding that anyone who ‘rebels’ against it is a ‘rebel’ and ‘warranting death.’ The comments came as reports emerged of a rise in attacks by armed opponents of the group, coinciding with the fifth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power.
On Saturday, Aug. 24, Neda Mohammad Nadeem called on people at the graduation ceremony of Parwan University students to support the Taliban administration and obey Hibatullah Akhundzada. He also described the Taliban administration’s laws and decrees as ‘guidance from God and the Prophet’ and said disobedience to the administration’s leader was illegitimate.
According to Nadeem, the previous system was based on principles that were ‘the result of people’s thoughts,’ and for that reason, ‘jihad was an individual duty for Muslims’ during that period. He also claimed that Afghanistan had emerged from years of turmoil and that reform and progress require time and patience.
The speech was delivered as part of the Taliban administration’s events marking the fifth anniversary of the group’s return to power. According to a statement from the Taliban administration’s acting minister of higher education, 857 students graduated from 10 faculties of Parwan University, a figure recorded without female students.
The remarks come amid reports of intense clashes in recent days between Taliban forces and armed opponents of the group in Badakhshan province. According to sources, the fighting continues in five districts of the province.
Parwan University is located in the provincial capital, north of Kabul, and is one of the country’s public higher education institutions. Since the Taliban returned to power, girls have been barred from continuing their studies at universities, and graduation ceremonies are held in many cases without them.
