Taliban Diplomatic Representative Attends Disability Day Ceremony in Tehran

Mawlawi Fazl Mohammad Haqqani, appointed by the Taliban administration as its representative in Iran, attended a ceremony in Tehran on Sunday to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

According to the Taliban embassy in Tehran, the event was held with the participation of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, several senior Iranian officials, and foreign diplomatic representatives based in Tehran.

The presence of a Taliban official at such a formal gathering comes amid widespread criticism of the group’s harsh and discriminatory policies toward people with disabilities, women, and minorities within Afghanistan. Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, the rights of people with disabilities have been disregarded, and their access to essential services has been significantly restricted.

The Taliban administration has yet to gain international recognition. The participation of its representative in official events abroad has raised concerns about the potential normalization of relations with an unelected and internationally unrecognized regime.