Taliban leader hides his face at Eid, fuelling death rumours

THE Taliban’s reclusive leader is said to have made a rare public appearance to mark the Eid ul-fitr festivities, but witnesses said he kept his face turned away from the crowds – doing little to dispel rumours that he may, in fact, be dead.

Haibatullah Akhundzada told worshippers marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan that the Taliban had achieved freedom and security since seizing power last year.

“Congratulations on victory, freedom and success,” he told thousands of people at the Eidgah mosque in Kandahar.

Mr Akhundzada delivered his address from one of the front rows of worshippers, without facing the congregation, according to social media posts.

Taliban officials did not allow media to approach him, an AFP correspondent reported. Audio of his speech was released, but no pictures of the leader emerged immediately afterwards.

The appearance is thought to be his second since taking leadership in 2016 and was his most significant since the Taliban took power in August 2021. A recording claimed to be from another address was released in October 2021.

The reclusive behaviour has led to speculation that he may be little more than a figurehead, or that he may have been dead for several years. Mullah Mohammad Omar, his predecessor and the movement’s founder, had been dead for two years before the Taliban announced his demise in 2015.

Several senior Taliban figures who spent years in hiding in the movement’s insurgency have continued to shy away from the public. Sirajuddin Haqqani, the now interior minister with a $10million (£8million) bounty on his head from the US, until recently insisted no photos of his face were released.

Mr Akhundzada made his speech praising security amid fears that violence is resuming after a string of bombings, mainly striking Shia and Sufi Muslims, including the bombing of a Kabul mosque on Friday which killed at least 50. Several attacks have been claimed by the local branch of the Islamic State group, which has been fighting the Taliban since 2014.

Kandahar resident Bismillah went to the prayers and was thrilled to see the leader, telling AFP: “I’m so happy that I can’t even describe it. I had a dream to pray alongside my supreme leader, to hear his voice or to see him.”

Gul Ahmad, another Kandahar resident at the prayers, thought Afghans would still worship despite the attacks.

He said: “Our people love their religion ... Even if blasts happen every day, our people will still visit such places and worship.”

‘Even if blasts happen every day, our people will still visit such places and worship’