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Rarely Seen, Afghanistan’s Supreme Leader Finally Appears at Eid Al-Fitr Celebrations

KABULKOMPAS.com – The supreme leader Afghanistan appeared in public for the second time in six years on Sunday (1/5/2022), told worshipers in celebration Eid Al-Fitr that the Taliban have achieved freedom and security since seizing power last year.

Speaking just days after the series of bombs exploded in Kabulthe man known as Hibatullah Akhundzada it gets a very tight level of security around it.

Read also: Ahead of Eid, Bombs Rock Afghanistan for 2 Days in a row

“Congratulations on victory, freedom and success,” he told thousands of worshipers in masjid Eidgah in the southern city of Kandahar, the “de facto” powerhouse of the hardline Taliban group AFP.

“Congratulations on this security and for the Islamic system.”

The number of bombings across the country has been relatively low since Kabul fell to the Taliban last August.

However, attacks spiked during the last two weeks of the fasting month of Ramadan, which ends on Saturday (30/4/2022) for Afghans.

Dozens of civilians have been killed in sectarian attacks, some claimed by ISIS, targeting members of the Shia and Sufi Muslim communities.

Friday’s bombing (29/4/2022) in the capital killed at least 10 people.

Read also: ISIS blows up van containing Shia worshipers in Afghanistan, 9 people die

Akhundzada delivered his short speech from one of the front row of worshipers in Kandahar without turning his head towards the crowd, according to social media posts.

Taliban officials did not allow journalists to approach him, an AFP correspondent reported.

Two helicopters hovered over the mosque during the two-hour event.

It was Akhundzada’s second public appearance since taking over the Taliban in 2016.

In October, he visited the Darul Uloom Hakimiah mosque in Kandahar, according to an audio recording circulated by the Taliban’s social media accounts.

photo" data-photolink="http://www.kompas.com/global/image/2022/05/01/221400070/jarang-terlihat-pemimpin-tertinggi-afghanistan-akhirnya-muncul-di?page=2" style=" max-width: 100% ; width:750px ">AFGHAN ISLAMIC PRESS via BBC INDONESIA Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada is a politician and religious leader who became the third Supreme Commander of the Taliban.-

Closed figure

Afghanistan’s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada’s closed profile has fueled speculation about his role in the new Taliban government, which was formed after the group took control of Kabul on August 15 — and even rumors of his death.

His public profile is largely limited to releasing messages during Islamic holidays, and Akhundzada is believed to spend most of his time in Kandahar.

Read also: Taliban Will Not Tolerate Invasion Of Neighbors In Afghanistan

On Friday (29/4/2022), in a message released ahead of Eid, he did not mention the bloodshed that rocked Afghanistan during Ramadan.

Instead, he praised the Taliban’s building of a “strong Islamic and national army” and “strong intelligence organisation”.

On Sunday (1/5/2022), many Afghans preferred to stay indoors after the recent deadly attacks.

“The situation of our people is very sad, especially after what happened in the mosques,” Kabul resident Ahmad Shah Hashemi told AFP.

“Many young and old have been martyred. The Afghan people have nothing but sorrow.”

The deadliest attack during Ramadan occurred in the northern province of Kunduz, where a bomb destroyed a mosque as a group of Sufis performed a ritual.

At least 36 people died and dozens were injured. So far no group has claimed the attack.

Read also: Taliban ban TikTok and PUBG in Afghanistan, judged “misleading”

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