Taliban Minister: Disobeying Hibatullah’s Orders Is Disobeying God’s Command

Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban’s Minister for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, has said that “disobeying Hibatullah’s orders is disobeying God’s command.” The remarks have once again sparked debate over the position of the Taliban leader, the extent of his authority, and religious interpretations of obedience and legitimacy in Afghanistan. Some Taliban supporters have backed Hanafi’s comments, while critics have questioned the statement and expressed concerns over the concentration of power in the hands of the group’s leader. The remarks come as questions over the Taliban’s leadership structure, decision-making process and the scope of authority held by its supreme leader remain key political and social issues in Afghanistan.