Taliban Appoints Qari Saeed Khosti to Oversee Registration of ‘Jihadi Works’
The Taliban administration has announced the appointment of Qari Saeed Khosti, a member of the Haqqani network, as the official responsible for registering and preserving the ‘Jihadi works of the Taliban.’ This decision comes despite his name previously being associated with serious legal accusations.
According to the Taliban, the term ‘Jihadi works’ includes items such as yellow barrel mines, bomb-laden motorcycles, suicide vests, and songs that praise war, violence, and suicide operations—elements that critics consider blatant promotion of violence.
Qari Saeed Khosti has previously been accused of ‘sexual assault,’ torture, and forced marriage to Elahe Delawarzi, a former student of Kabul Medical University. Despite these allegations, he has not faced any legal proceedings to date.
Khosti, due to his membership in the Haqqani network led by Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Interior Minister, had earlier served as spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior. Approximately three and a half years ago, following allegations of ‘rape’ and ‘forced marriage,’ he was removed from the official structure; however, he later worked as an advisor in the Ministry of Information and Culture and has now been appointed once again to a government position.
This appointment takes place while the Taliban administration continually speaks of delivering ‘justice,’ yet the failure to hold individuals accused of violating personal rights accountable—including in this case—raises serious questions about mechanisms of accountability and justice within the administration.
