Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada reportedly emerged on Wednesday for a rare public address marking the end of Ramadan in which he pushed back on international criticism.
Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Akhundzada delivered the speech at the largest mosque in Kandahar to a crowd of thousands. Most attendees at the Eid al-Fitr service, however, were unable to see Akhundzada, as a source for the AFP reported. They heard his 35-minute address over loudspeakers.
The Taliban’s leader exists behind layers of security and is often referred to as “reclusive”; there is reportedly only one photograph of him.
In the address, which was also aired by the state-run radio station, Akhundzada railed against the Taliban’s critics.
“If anyone has any issues with us, we are open to resolving them, but we will never compromise on our principles or Islam,” he said, according to a report from VOA.
Akhundzada said countries that participated in the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan were still attacking the country with “propaganda” and “evil tactics.”
“They blame your leaders, claiming they are incapable of governing the country. Don’t let these infidels mislead you,” he said. “Stay vigilant and be mindful of their deceitful tactics. Their ultimate goal is to see us fail.”
Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the country’s economy has cratered and poverty has grown. According to an April 2023 United Nations Development Program report, by the end of 2022 the number of Afghans living below the poverty line had nearly doubled since 2020 — from around 19 million to 34 million. A February 2024 World Bank report referred to economic activity in Afghanistan as “anemic.”
In his Eid speech, Akhundzada sought to justify his regime’s harsh rule, which has included barring girls from school and women from most public and private workplaces. In late March, Akhundzada announced that Afghanistan would reintroduce the public flogging and stoning of women for adultery. In an audio message he said, “You may call it a violation of women’s rights when we publicly stone or flog them for committing adultery because they conflict with your democratic principles… [But] I represent Allah, and you represent Satan.”
Akhundzada firmly rooted the Taliban’s legitimacy in its adherence to Islam, a message reiterated in his Eid address.
“I am administering God’s Hudud,” he said, referring to punishments that are mandated in Islam’s holy texts, primarily the Quran. “They object to it, saying public stoning and hand-cutting are against their laws and human rights. You expect us to follow your laws while imposing them on us,” Akhundzada continued. “Islam is a divine religion that deserves respect, but you insult it instead.”
Although Akhundzada’s Eid speech targeted the Taliban’s external foes, in a written statement released on April 6, he urged Taliban officials to “live a brotherly life among themselves, avoid disagreements and selfishness.” According to the Associated Press, “His message was distributed in seven languages including Uzbek and Turkmen… and it touched on diplomatic relations, the economy, justice, charity and the virtues of meritocracy.”
In other Eid speeches, Taliban officials rejected criticism from the United Nations. Noor Mohammad Saqib, the acting Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs, said, “The United Nations report claiming that in Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirate, also known as the Taliban, eliminates their political opponents, is propaganda.”
It’s not clear specifically which U.N. report Saqib was referencing, though there is no shortage of critical reports.
According to Tolo News, Saqib went on to criticize the former Republic government, noting its shortcomings in regard to corruption, border management and other issues.
Other Taliban officials urged Afghans to return to the country. The head of the prime minister’s office, Abdul Wasi Akhund, reportedly said, “We tell all citizens that our homeland is peaceful and the current situation is stable with overall stability, security, and national unity in the country, and we should support this situation.”
Another official, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs Abdul Salam Hanafi said, “We envision a bright future in Afghanistan and a civilized and progressive Afghanistan that can compete in this region.”