Noorullah Noori, the Taliban’s Minister of Borders, Ethnicities, and Tribes, says that opponents of the group are attempting to form fronts aimed at “liberating Afghanistan.” He added that those who, according to him, have tested their goals over the past twenty years should not raise slogans of freedom for Afghanistan and “have no place left in Afghanistan.”
Mr. Noori, who met with residents of the Kohistanat district during a visit to Sar-e Pol province, said that Afghanistan is currently governed by a system that, in his words, operates “under the umbrella of Islamic Sharia in all matters.”
The Taliban minister also claimed that the people of Afghanistan support the current system and that this support is not based on coercion or force. According to him, Afghan citizens stand alongside the Taliban “of their own will and consent.”
These remarks come amid widespread and systematic restrictions imposed on women, girls, and certain social groups since the Taliban’s return to power. Women and girls have been deprived of the right to education and employment policies that United Nations officials have repeatedly warned could result in a “lost generation.”
Noorullah Noori further claimed that internal divisions, acts of revenge, and conflict have ended since the Taliban came to power, and that security has been established throughout Afghanistan.
However, in recent months there have been reports of rising insecurity and criminal activity, including killings and kidnappings, in various parts of the country. The Taliban have also taken harsh measures against political and social opponents over the years.
International organizations and human rights groups have repeatedly expressed concern about the state of freedom of expression, human rights, and civil liberties in Afghanistan under Taliban control.
At the same time, reports have emerged in recent months of protests against Taliban policies, particularly in Herat province, and of the suppression of such gatherings.
Meanwhile, some critics of the Taliban argue that the group’s policies and actions are neither consistent with Islamic teachings nor compatible with the culture and values of Afghan society.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
