Taliban leader asks mullahs to help “build a mindset” in society

Kabul Times News | Shahpur Nayebzada

The Taliban has announced that Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the group, in a meeting with a number of mullahs, imams and religious scholars from Parwan and Kapisa provinces, emphasized the extensive role of clerics in “building a mindset” and raising religious awareness in society.

According to a press release issued on Sunday, May 17, by Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Taliban, Haibatullah Akhundzada has asked the mullahs to make more efforts to strengthen religious views and promote the policies of the Taliban government.

The Taliban leader said in the meeting:

“Now is the best opportunity for the scholars to make more efforts in the field of better building a mindset and religious awareness among the people.”

He also called on clerics to hold more extensive “jurisprudential councils” and explain the orders issued by the Taliban leadership to the people.

These statements come at a time when the role of mullahs and religious scholars in the political, social, and even security spheres has increased significantly after the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan. In many provinces, local and executive decisions are also made with the opinion and approval of mullah imams.

In the most recent case, the Taliban municipality had also announced that the approval of the local mullah imams is necessary for issuing permits for the construction of houses; a move that has led to reactions and concerns about the expansion of religious influence in administrative and urban structures.

Some political observers believe that the Taliban’s emphasis on “mentality building” through mullahs is part of the group’s effort to consolidate ideological legitimacy and social control in Afghanistan; An action that could further emphasize the role of religious institutions in governing the country.