Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, a former Afghan jihadist leader, has accused the Taliban of straying from “the path of the Quran.” In a message addressed to the Taliban, Mr. Sayyaf wrote: “Fear Allah. You have deviated from the path of the Quran. The Quran has guided us with wisdom and soft, pleasant words, not with the barrel of a gun.” The remarks appear to have been made in response to the detention of a number of women in Herat and the crackdown on popular protests in that province. In a note posted on X, the former jihadist leader emphasised that in the teachings of the Quran, encouragement and appreciation are preferred over threats and humiliation. He also said: “Once again, fear God and stop beating and killing people. Otherwise, the cost of this in this world and the hereafter will be beyond your endurance.” In recent days, the Taliban have detained a number of women in several cities, particularly in Herat, for what they have described as non-compliance with hijab rules — a move that has drawn reactions and protests from some citizens. At the same time, popular protests in the Jebrail area of Herat city have also been suppressed. According to reports, at least one person was killed and several others wounded as a result of gunfire by Taliban forces. Meanwhile, a number of Afghan politicians and human rights advocacy groups have condemned the detention of women and the crackdown on popular protests.
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