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To survey How to use our map View map Home: Our Misson Latest Reports Audio clip from Taliban leader addresses stoning of Afghan women In audio clips circulated online in March, the Taliban’s Supreme Leader emphasised the strict implementation of Sharia punishments and spoke of harsher punishments for women. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar relocated from state-owned land by Taliban officials According to the Taliban, the land that Hizb-e Islami party leader Hekmatyar was living on had been provided by the Republican government and was not legitimate, as recognising it as such would imply recognition of the previous administration. Rising reports of femicide: new digital map documents cases of violence and repression of Afghan women in ‘public’ roles Female-led newsroom Zan Times used investigative reporting and open source techniques to document killings, disappearances and arrests of Afghan women. Taliban issues further restrictions on Afghan female journalists in TV and radio In Kabul, female presenters were reportedly told to appear on air only in full veiling, while in Khost, local media was prohibited from broadcasting calls from women and girls. Afghan women protest Taliban’s policies on International Women’s Day Afghan Witness has seen a downturn in street protests, with many women taking their protests indoors and online in an attempt to avoid suppression or violence. Afghan media outlet Etilaatroz launch fact-checking unit as a result of Afghan Witness partnership The Etilaatroz team have been working steadily with AW to learn fact-checking methodologies and develop open source skills. Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan prompt retaliatory actions from Taliban Pakistan stated the strikes were directed at militant group members located in Afghanistan, while the Afghan Taliban claimed that civilian residential areas were hit. Afghan Witness confirmed the deaths of several children following the strikes and verified retaliatory shelling and gunfire from Afghan forces towards Pakistani territory. Accounts impersonating female journalists share pro-Taliban content Many of the impersonator accounts identified by Afghan Witness repeatedly use derogatory language toward the Afghan LGBTQIA+ community and attempt to defame activists and news anchors in exile. ISKP claim responsibility for attack outside Kandahar bank According to the group’s statement, a suicide bomber targeted Taliban members withdrawing their salaries. Reports cite conflicting casualty figures, though a source at a hospital claimed 21 individuals were killed in the attack. The anti-Taliban Khutba of Mawlawi Abdul Shakoor Hanif Shakoor's anti-Taliban speech departs from typical pro-Taliban Khutbas, and underscores the impact that dissenting religious voices can have against the Taliban regime Pro-Taliban accounts promote Afshar Genocide hashtag Pro-Taliban accounts began sharing posts commemorating the anniversary of the 1993 Hazara massacre on X on February 10 to denounce Massoud’s military operation, whilst anti-Taliban activists called out pro-Taliban attempts to exacerbate ethnic tensions Taliban measure to enrol women in public medical institutes promoted by bot-like social media accounts The news that female graduates would be allowed to apply to study in public medical institutes in 11 provinces has been heavily promoted by social media accounts, some of which display bot-like behaviour More Reports In the Press Home: Who we are For Witnesses For journalists Anchor 1 Home: Contact Strengthening reporting Our database of verified information is available in the form of the interactive Afghan Witness Map , designed to support journalists, researchers and policymakers in their reporting and analysis. Further data from our database of visual evidence and claims is also shared with organisations and journalists upon request. While our work is rooted in open source verification, our interviews with Afghans from a variety of backgrounds shed light on the impacts of the issues we monitor daily. These testimonies are available in an anonymised form for journalists and international media to report on. Get in Touch For Witnesses We provide a secure solution for anyone who has witnessed a human rights incident in Afghanistan and wants to ensure their digital evidence is recorded, analysed and stored in order to hold perpetrators to account. Afghan Witness will investigate and, where possible, verify information submitted through the portal. Evidence can be uploaded anonymously – safeguarding the identities of witnesses and those providing information is of the utmost importance. Upload Evidence View map Subscribe below for in-depth reports, stories, and our monthly newsletter. First name Enter your email address I agree to the terms & conditions View terms of use Subscribe Thanks for submitting! Top of Page Strengthening the information environment Part of our work focuses on building community and strengthening the capabilities of the Afghan diaspora and international organisations to collect, analyse and record information in a way that is verifiable and in accordance with international accountability mechanisms. We do this through training, collaboration, skill swapping, information sharing and through our grants and fellowship program.

Reports and Analysis Original reporting by the Afghan Witness team 30 Apr 2024 Audio clip from Taliban leader addresses stoning of Afghan women In audio clips circulated online in March, the Taliban’s Supreme Leader emphasised the strict implementation of Sharia punishments and spoke of harsher punishments for women. Read more 30 Apr 2024 Gulbuddin Hekmatyar relocated from state-owned land by Taliban officials According to the Taliban, the land that Hizb-e Islami party leader Hekmatyar was living on had been provided by the Republican government and was not legitimate, as recognising it as such would imply recognition of the previous administration. Read more 22 Apr 2024 Rising reports of femicide: new digital map documents cases of violence and repression of Afghan women in ‘public’ roles Female-led newsroom Zan Times used investigative reporting and open source techniques to document killings, disappearances and arrests of Afghan women. Read more 11 Apr 2024 Taliban issues further restrictions on Afghan female journalists in TV and radio In Kabul, female presenters were reportedly told to appear on air only in full veiling, while in Khost, local media was prohibited from broadcasting calls from women and girls. Read more 10 Apr 2024 Afghan women protest Taliban’s policies on International Women’s Day Afghan Witness has seen a downturn in street protests, with many women taking their protests indoors and online in an attempt to avoid suppression or violence. Read more 4 Apr 2024 Afghan media outlet Etilaatroz launch fact-checking unit as a result of Afghan Witness partnership The Etilaatroz team have been working steadily with AW to learn fact-checking methodologies and develop open source skills. Read more 28 Mar 2024 Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan prompt retaliatory actions from Taliban Pakistan stated the strikes were directed at militant group members located in Afghanistan, while the Afghan Taliban claimed that civilian residential areas were hit. Afghan Witness confirmed the deaths of several children following the strikes and verified retaliatory shelling and gunfire from Afghan forces towards Pakistani territory. Read more 28 Mar 2024 Accounts impersonating female journalists share pro-Taliban content Many of the impersonator accounts identified by Afghan Witness repeatedly use derogatory language toward the Afghan LGBTQIA+ community and attempt to defame activists and news anchors in exile. Read more 28 Mar 2024 ISKP claim responsibility for attack outside Kandahar bank According to the group’s statement, a suicide bomber targeted Taliban members withdrawing their salaries. Reports cite conflicting casualty figures, though a source at a hospital claimed 21 individuals were killed in the attack. Read more 1 Mar 2024 The anti-Taliban Khutba of Mawlawi Abdul Shakoor Hanif Shakoor's anti-Taliban speech departs from typical pro-Taliban Khutbas, and underscores the impact that dissenting religious voices can have against the Taliban regime Read more Load more

Filter by Tags Reports & Analysis Original reporting by the Afgha n Witness team 30 Apr 2024 Audio clip from Taliban leader addresses stoning of Afghan women In audio clips circulated online in March, the Taliban’s Supreme Leader emphasised the strict implementation of Sharia punishments and spoke of harsher punishments for women. Read here 22 Apr 2024 Rising reports of femicide: new digital map documents cases of violence and repression of Afghan women in ‘public’ roles Female-led newsroom Zan Times used investigative reporting and open source techniques to document killings, disappearances and arrests of Afghan women. Read here 10 Apr 2024 Afghan women protest Taliban’s policies on International Women’s Day Afghan Witness has seen a downturn in street protests, with many women taking their protests indoors and online in an attempt to avoid suppression or violence. Read here 28 Mar 2024 Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan prompt retaliatory actions from Taliban Pakistan stated the strikes were directed at militant group members located in Afghanistan, while the Afghan Taliban claimed that civilian residential areas were hit. Afghan Witness confirmed the deaths of several children following the strikes and verified retaliatory shelling and gunfire from Afghan forces towards Pakistani territory. Read here 28 Mar 2024 ISKP claim responsibility for attack outside Kandahar bank According to the group’s statement, a suicide bomber targeted Taliban members withdrawing their salaries. Reports cite conflicting casualty figures, though a source at a hospital claimed 21 individuals were killed in the attack. Read here 30 Apr 2024 Gulbuddin Hekmatyar relocated from state-owned land by Taliban officials According to the Taliban, the land that Hizb-e Islami party leader Hekmatyar was living on had been provided by the Republican government and was not legitimate, as recognising it as such would imply recognition of the previous administration. Read here 11 Apr 2024 Taliban issues further restrictions on Afghan female journalists in TV and radio In Kabul, female presenters were reportedly told to appear on air only in full veiling, while in Khost, local media was prohibited from broadcasting calls from women and girls. Read here 4 Apr 2024 Afghan media outlet Etilaatroz launch fact-checking unit as a result of Afghan Witness partnership The Etilaatroz team have been working steadily with AW to learn fact-checking methodologies and develop open source skills. Read here 28 Mar 2024 Accounts impersonating female journalists share pro-Taliban content Many of the impersonator accounts identified by Afghan Witness repeatedly use derogatory language toward the Afghan LGBTQIA+ community and attempt to defame activists and news anchors in exile. Read here 1 Mar 2024 The anti-Taliban Khutba of Mawlawi Abdul Shakoor Hanif Shakoor's anti-Taliban speech departs from typical pro-Taliban Khutbas, and underscores the impact that dissenting religious voices can have against the Taliban regime Read here View More

Afghan media outlet Etilaatroz launch fact-checking unit as a result of Afghan Witness partnership The Etilaatroz team have been working steadily with AW to learn fact-checking methodologies and develop open source skills. 4 Apr 2024 Image: Austin Distel via Unsplash This week, Afghan media outlet Etilaatroz launched a new fact-checking unit supported by Afghan Witness (AW). The unit – named ‘ Sanjah ’, a Dari/Farsi word meaning to measure, check or verify – will be staffed by a team of experienced journalists who will work to verify the accuracy of claims from public figures, media, and other institutions and organisations in Afghanistan. “The Afghan information space is complex and challenged by ongoing efforts to weaken it through the spread of mis- and disinformation,” said AW’s Director of Impact and Engagement, Olivia Pirie-Griffiths.“The launch of Sanjah is a testament to the Etilaatroz team and their long-standing commitment to reporting news with reliability and integrity. It has been a privilege for Afghan Witness to collaborate with Etilaatroz through the delivery of open source training, mentoring and financial support in the months leading up to Sanjah’s launch.” CIR’s Afghan Witness project was established in late 2021 after the Taliban took control of the country. Since then, the team has been working steadily to identify and counter mis- and disinformation, as well as exposing human rights violations with a focus on those carried out against ethnic minorities and women and children. AW also collaborates with numerous Afghan organisations, sharing skills and data, and conducting joint investigations and projects that seek to strengthen Afghanistan’s information environment. This collaboration with Etilaatroz , an organisation founded in 2012 by CEO, Zaki Daryabi, has been possible under AW’s grants program, which supports a number of Afghan organisations to conduct research, investigations and other projects such as this one, with open source methodologies and techniques at their core. Commenting on the launch of Sanjah, Zaki Daryabi, Etilaatroz’s CEO, said: “We will be working to identify and debunk false information circulating online and in the public sphere, carefully examine claims, provide readers with a clear understanding of their truthfulness, and hold public figures and organisations accountable for the information they share. “We believe that this new initiative will be a valuable resource for our readers and for the community as a whole. By providing access to accurate information, we hope to foster a more informed and engaged citizenry.” In Afghanistan’s online environment, mis– and disinformation is widespread. AW analysts have frequently seen old content shared out-of-context or reframed as new, as well as more deliberate attempts to deceive in the form of fake news accounts impersonating Afghan outlets. Women have been particularly affected by the shrinking online space: a report published by AW in November looks at online gender hate speech targeting politically active Afghan women, and notes a tripling of abusive posts between the period measured in 2021 and that same period measured a year later. Similarly, a recent report published by AW covers the significant influx of fake accounts that seek to undermine the voices of LGBTQIA+ activists and other politically active figures who share different views to the Taliban. “At a time when Afghan women face dire restrictions to their day-to-day participation, the internet has provided a space for Afghan women to take part in their communities and campaign for their rights. Ensuring mis- and disinformation is identified and countered has never been more important,” said AW’s Pirie-Griffiths. Etilaatroz’s team have been working steadily with the AW team to learn fact-checking methodologies and open source advanced search and verification techniques. The launch of Sanjah is a result of their continued effort and commitment to journalistic integrity, in the face of an ever-challenging information environment. AW will continue to work with the team to support and contribute to Sanjah’s success. Share

​ ​ 4 Apr 2024

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Audio clip from Taliban leader addresses stoning of Afghan women In audio clips circulated online in March, the Taliban’s Supreme Leader emphasised the strict implementation of Sharia punishments and spoke of harsher punishments for women. 30 Apr 2024 Photo: © Afghan Witness On 24 March 2024, an audio clip attributed to Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada surfaced on X (formerly Twitter). The 3:54-minute audio clip was posted by the Taliban-run Radio Television of Afghanistan (RTA) radio branch. In the clip, Akhundzada stresses that Sharia punishments will continue to be implemented in Afghanistan, and notes that harsher punishments for women will be forthcoming. That same day, RTA Deputy Director General Hedayatullah Hedayat also posted the clip. Both sources later deleted the clip, amid condemnation and a backlash by Afghan politicians, human rights defenders, and women’s rights groups. Afghan Witness (AW) analysts discovered another version of the audio, 3:47 minutes in length, shared by a YouTube channel belonging to the Taliban’s Spokesperson for the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), Hafiz Ziaullah Hashemi, on 23 March 2024. Hashemi also posted part of the audio on X. Unlike Hedayat and RTA radio, he has not deleted it. RTA radio, Hedayat, and Hashemi all referred to Akhundzada’s speech in the audio recording as the most recent remarks made by the Taliban leader. Although there is overlap between the two audio clips, the clip shared by Hashemi contains more of Akhundzada’s speech, whereas the RTA clip includes commentaries by a reporter and religious scholar. In the clip shared by RTA Radio, and archived by AW investigators, Akhundzada says: “ Our message to the West is that we have fought against you for 20 years and will fight against you for another 20 years or more. This war does not end here. We aim to establish the religion of Allah and implement Sharia on this land. It does not end with merely controlling Kabul and the provinces. No, that is not our goal. We would now implement Sharia in practice. We are implementing Allah's Hudud [punishments mandated by God]. We will publicly implement Rajm (stoning) of women for adultery. We will implement public lashing for adultery. All such actions conflict with your democracy, and you will be fighting against each of them. Just as you claim to be liberating humanity, so am I. I represent Allah, but you represent Satan. But the party of Allah will prevail .” After commentary by an RTA reporter, Akhundzada’s remarks continue: “ You (the West) use women as animals. You don’t differentiate between a woman and an animal. Is this the right you (the West) want for women? Is this humanity and human rights that the West defines? Ulema will stand against the West. Ulema will stand against their democracy. It was Ulama who buried their democracy in the earth. It was the scholars who sank the ship of the West here. Mujahidin, who made sacrifices yesterday, continue to make sacrifices today .” AW could not provide a link to the audio clip shared by RTA Radio, as it was deleted. However, a screenshot of the post that included the recording is available, as seen below on the top. The screenshot features the image of the audio clip, shared by RTA Radio, which clearly shows the RTA radio logo, and that it was part of a radio report. On the bottom is a screenshot of Hedayat’s post, which was also deleted. Figure: Screenshot of RTA Radio’s report on remarks of the Taliban leader, regarding harsher punishment of women in public (top), and screenshot of the post by Deputy Director General of RTA Hedayatullah Hedayat (bottom). The other version of the audio, which was shared by MoHE Spokesman Hashemi, includes the end of Akhundzada’s speech: “ Just as you claim to be liberating humanity, so do I. You represent Satan, but I represent Allah. Allah says: party of Allah will prevail. [he refers to Quran Ayat:فَإِنَّ حِزْبَ اللّهِ هُمُ الْغَالِبُون ]. The party of Allah will invite people to believe in/worship Allah, but the party of Satan/tyrant will invite people to paganism, democracy and Westernism. You should note that we will worship Allah until he comes to our death. We will defend this religion (Islam) until they come to our death.The revolution came, and the infidels were defeated. What is important is to adhere to this religion and belief (Islam) and continue to safeguard it. The world is striving to steal this treasure (religion of Islam) from you and have control/influence over your mind. Be mindful and continue to resist. All eyes are on you …” Pro-Taliban accounts posted both audio clips, using the same captions used in the original posts. The RTA Radio version of the audio was posted and reposted by pro-Taliban accounts on 24 March 2024 and read: “His Highness Amir al-Mu'minin said in his latest statement that after the fight against the West in Afghanistan and their defeat, we would continue our fight to implement the Sharia Hudud and enforce the religion and Sharia of Allah. Amir al-Mu'minin has called on the Westerners that although we have fought with you for 20 years to bring Sharia, this struggle does not end here.” AW observed pro-Taliban accounts sharing the other version of the audio clip, initially shared by Hashemi, on 23 March 2024, with the short caption that read: “The Speech of His Highness Amir al-Mu'minin. Topic: Women’s rights” Meanwhile, claims circulated on X that Akhundzada’s remarks were not new. On 24 March 2024, Afghan journalist Sami Yousafzai asserted that the speech was not new. During a podcast hosted by the Independent Urdu, Yousafzai reaffirmed this position. In the same podcast, however, prominent journalist Tahir Khan contended that the Supreme Leader’s remarks were made recently. AW assesses that the voice in the clip matches the previously disseminated recordings attributed to Akhundzada. Moreover, credible sources confirmed to AW that the audio was from an address Akhundzada gave to a seminary gathering in Kandahar in November or December 2023. Despite this, AW note that no audio clips from these remarks were previously posted or leaked online. Anti-Taliban and ISKP reactions Akhundzada’s remarks, and his emphasis on the implementation of harsher public punishments for women, triggered condemnation from politicians, women’s rights advocates, and human rights defenders. On 24 March 2024, former Head of the Afghan National Security Directorate Rahmatullah Nabil wrote on X that Akhundzada’s remarks convey a message to the world, that despite the efforts to reform and influence the Taliban with foreign aid, the Taliban’s fundamental antagonism towards the basic human rights remains unchanged. Activist and female protester Tamana Paryani wrote on 25 March 2024: “ You heard the words of the Taliban leader in the media today; we heard and experienced them in prison for nearly a month. This is what the Taliban is, and they will not change.” Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) – an offshoot of IS – responded to the remarks by accusing the Taliban’s Supreme Leader of making empty promises. In a 16-page booklet, as well as through Telegram channels, the ISKP alleges that the Taliban Leader's promises to implement Sharia punishments were attempts to deceive followers. They claim that Akhundzada’s remarks were deleted from official Taliban accounts due to international pressure to maintain aid from the international community. Figure: Screenshot of the booklet titled “Colonel Hebat Deceives People with Repeated Promises of Bringing Sharia,” released by Al-Azaim media on 27 March 2024 Uptick in Sharia punishments of women Fourteen Sharia punishments were announced by the Taliban Supreme Court on X between 21 February 2024 and 20 March 2024. This is nearly triple the figure observed between 21 January 2024 and 20 February 2024, when just five punishments were announced. More recently, between 24 March 2024 and 4 April 2024, the Supreme Court implemented 12 punishment sentences on 29 individuals. The Taliban have reportedly publicly punished 70 women since the first punishment was announced by the Supreme Court on 26 October 2022. However, punishments implemented against women have all been lashings, with no Hudud or Qisas* punishments reported to date. The Supreme Court does not always provide a gender breakdown regarding those being punished. However, based on an analysis of the data where this information was available, AW determined the crimes that Afghan women have been convicted of, and publicly punished for, include adultery, illicit relationships, immorality, and running away. The Taliban’s overhaul of Afghanistan’s justice system Following their takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban replaced the former Afghan judiciary with their own system, in which only Taliban-approved male lawyers can appear in courts. Moreover, these lawyers are required to be loyal to the state and their rigid interpretation of Sharia Law. Under the Taliban, female lawyers, prosecutors and judges have all been banned . Taliban courts consist of one judge, one mufti, or Islamic jurist, and a clerk in each department where judgements are made, based on Majjallah Al-Ahkam, a collection of jurisprudential rules and issues based on the Quran and Hanafi jurisprudence. Under Taliban rule, there have been reports that judges have refused to listen to or see women, and that women are not allowed to appear in courts without their male guardians. Despite this, the Taliban claim that courts have been ordered to address women’s cases without any discrimination, based on a decree issued by the Supreme Leader in December 2021. At the time of writing, it remains unclear how the Supreme Leader’s latest remarks, shared online on 23 and 24 March 2024, will impact women accused of criminal activity in Afghanistan. However, they will likely further exacerbate the bleak outlook on women’s rights in the country. *Hudud refers to fixed Islamic punishments for specific offences, while Qisas refers to the principle of retaliation or equal punishment for crimes in Islamic law. There is a significant evidentiary burden that must be met in order to implement Hudud punishments. See AW’s previous report on public punishments in Afghanistan. Share

​ ​ 30 Apr 2024

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Gulbuddin Hekmatyar relocated from state-owned land by Taliban officials According to the Taliban, the land that Hizb-e Islami party leader Hekmatyar was living on had been provided by the Republican government and was not legitimate, as recognising it as such would imply recognition of the previous administration. 30 Apr 2024 Image: Maxar Technologies via Google Earth, October 2021 On 24 March 2024, media outlets reported that the Taliban surrounded the residence and office of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of the Hizb-e Islami party, located in Kabul City's Dar-ul Aman area. Some sources claimed that Hekmatyar had been apprehended and was subsequently transferred to a detention facility under the control of the Taliban's Minister of Justice. Other sources indicated that Hekmatyar’s bodyguards had been disarmed and his vehicles seized. Later the same day, Karim Amin, a senior member of the Hizb-e Islami party, told Afghanistan International: “The Hizb-e Islami office is definitely not under siege; however, it was decided to change the residence of the leader and the office of the party.” According to Afghanistan International, the dispute is over the land of Hekmatyar's house and office, which the Taliban claim belongs to the Ministry of Defence. In October 2023, the Taliban’s Ministry of Justice announced that the Land Grab Prevention and Restitution Commission had evaluated the allotment of the 13 acres of government land in Kabul to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, but did not provide additional details on the outcome. Hekmatyar's grandson, Obaidullah Baheer, said on X (formerly Twitter) that there was no raid or disarmament involved in the incident. Rather, a disagreement over the Dar-ul Aman land ownership was the issue. Baheer claimed that nothing had been handed over to the Taliban, and said that Hekmatyar had been moved to another location in Kabul until the matter could be resolved. Hekmatyar’s residential and office complex Hekmatyar, a Pashtun originating from Kunduz province, is a former mujahideen leader who actively opposed both Soviet Union and NATO incursions into Afghanistan, engaging in heavy fighting in Kabul in the 1990s. Following this, Hekmatyar went into hiding for 20 years, returning from an unknown location via Nangarhar in 2017. After signing a peace accord with former President Ashraf Ghani in September 2016, Hekmatyar returned to Kabul in May 2017, and was housed by the government in Kabul’s Dar-ul Aman area. Hekmatyar subsequently developed a compound in the area, comprising his office, the Eman mosque , the Eman private hospital , a private television studio, Barya TV, and other similar structures. Figure: Hekmatyar’s compound in the Dar-ul Aman area of Kabul houses various buildings, including the Eman Hospital (highlighted in blue) and the Eman Mosque (highlighted in yellow) 34.470434, 69.122685 Clarification from Hizb-e Islami around Hekmatyar’s relocation On 25 March 2024, Habib-ur Rahman Hekmatyar, son of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, clarified on X that according to a peace agreement article with the former Republican Government, the Hizb-e Islami party leader was provided a residence. However, the Taliban found this arrangement unacceptable, and after lengthy discussions, they decided that Hekmatyar should be relocated. Habib-ur Rahman emphasised that there was no siege, disarmament, or disrespect involved in the incident. AW reviewed the 2016 peace agreement , which stated: “The leader of Hizb-e Islami can choose two or three suitable places for his residence in Afghanistan, and the government will provide him with the necessary security measures and reasonable expenses.” In his post on X, Habib-ur Rahman highlighted the internal discord among Taliban leaders over the decision to relocate Hekmatyar; despite these internal disagreements, the decision was enforced. In another post on the same day, Habib-ur Rahman criticised the Taliban’s forced evacuation and its timing, saying that they behaved like a land grabber and forced his father to evacuate during the month of Ramadan while it could be done after the Eid holidays. He noted that his father was subsequently given a house in the Wazir Akbar Khan area, which Habib-ur Rahman claimed is not better than his old house, as some pro-Taliban accounts had claimed, but added that his father accepted the house for the time being, due to it being the month of Ramadan. Clarification from the Taliban around Hekmatyar’s relocation The Taliban initially remained silent, but on 26 March 2024, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that the “rumours circulated in the media about Hekmatyar were incorrect.” He said that while Hekmatyar was a significant figure in jihad, his former residence was contentious; this led to the decision to relocate to a more appropriate location. Mujahid emphasised that no further actions were taken against Hekmatyar, and said that his honour, dignity, and status were respected throughout the process. In a video clip released on 31 March 2024, Abdul Hakim Sharayee, the Taliban’s Minister of Justice, and the Head of the Land Grab Prevention and Restitution Commission, addressed the issue. He said that regardless of whether Hekmatyar came to Kabul through a peace deal or surrender, the Republican government granted him land. However, Sharayee said that the documentation surrounding the land was not perceived as legitimate, because it implied recognition of the previous administration. Despite this, according to Sharayee, the Taliban gave Hekmatyar one week’s notice to vacate the Dar-ul Aman property, which was extended to four weeks, and then extended until the end of winter. Eventually, Sharayee said that Hekmatyar was provided with a new house and relocated. In this address, Sharayee also highlighted that under the Taliban regime, political parties were banned, and noted that mentioning them is considered a crime. He also said that after the collapse of the previous government, and the return of the Taliban, those who accepted the new order remained in the country, while dissenters left by various means. Implicitly addressing Hekmatyar, he suggested that those who disagreed with Taliban policies could leave, and emphasised that those who choose to stay are obliged to adhere to Taliban laws. Several accounts supported the evacuation but still expressed respect for Hekmatyar. Mullah Abdul Hanan Hemat, a Taliban diplomat based in Pakistan, posted on his private X account: “The house where Hekmatyar resided had legal issues. Now, the IEA has provided him with a better place without such problems. Hekmatyar, as a Jihad leader, is widely respected.” A pro-Taliban propagandist praised Hekmatyar as a respected jihadist leader, despite past mistakes, adding that the acting Minister of Interior of the Taliban Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani personally arranged and funded the relocation due to legal concerns in the old house. Anti-Taliban reactions to Hekmatyar’s relocation On 25 March 2024, an anti-Taliban social media activist claimed that Hekmatyar was ousted from his office with blatant disrespect. He added: “Now, I hope all parties and opponents of the Taliban have come to the conclusion that the Taliban are not in the mood for negotiation and peace.” Anti-Taliban figure Abdulah Khinjani, Deputy Minister of Peace Affairs in the former administration, observed that Pashtun leaders like former presidents Ashraf Ghani and Hamid Karzai, and jihadi leaders like Hekmatyar, had always seen the Taliban as “political assets” for their own advantage, and “one is now a fugitive, another is under house arrest, and the third faces ongoing humiliation”. Pro-Hizb-e Islami reactions to Hekmatyar’s relocation A pro-Hizb-e Islami activist questioned the accusations made against Hekmatyar, asking whether it was his party or the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan that seized properties of former government members, urging careful consideration before making false claims and pondering who the true usurper is, the Taliban’s Supreme Leader or Hekmatyar. Sultan Hamid Akhundzada, another pro-Hekmatyar figure, shared an open letter from a pro-Taliban jihadi figure, Qazi Abdul Aziz, addressing the Taliban leadership; this letter listed and criticised the Taliban's mistakes, including the disappointing handling of Hekmatyar's residence issue. Relations between the Taliban and Hekmatyar In the aftermath of the Taliban's capture of Kabul in August 2021, Hekmatyar pledged his unconditional support to the regime. Despite this, he continued to criticise certain aspects of Taliban governance, particularly their policies on girls' education . Senior Taliban officials, notably Minister of Foreign Affairs Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi and Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs Khalil Haqqani , sometimes paid visits to Hekmatyar at his residence to discuss political, economic, security and social issues. Despite the Taliban's prohibition of all party activities in Afghanistan, both Hizb-e Islami, led by Hekmatyar, and the Afghanistan branch of Hizb-ut Tahrir, have somehow continued their low-profile activities. Hekmatyar regularly delivered Friday sermons at his Eman mosque in Kabul, discussing political topics , until it was targeted in an unclaimed, failed suicide attack in December 2022. Subsequently, Hekmatyar limited his public appearances due to security concerns . Recently, he has been conducting Zoom meetings with his supporters abroad, engaging in discussions on Afghan political matters, and occasionally criticising the Taliban. Conclusion The Taliban's Land Grab Prevention and Restitution Commission has demonstrated swift action against numerous alleged land grabbers, including the recent demolition of a property belonging to a former Pashtun parliamentarian in Kabul. While ostensibly the Taliban targeted Hekmatyar to reclaim state-owned land, as per reports, the group's action may also be interpreted as an attempt to diminish his influence and restrict his public engagements, by downsizing his accommodations from a sprawling compound to a more modest dwelling. Hekmatyar’s relocation sparked discontent with him and among his Hizb-e Islami followers. Accompanied by a flood of mis- and disinformation, this move was interpreted by Hizb-e Islami and several independent analysts as an attempt to silence dissent and eliminate non-Taliban political figures and parties from Afghanistan's political landscape. Share

​ ​ 30 Apr 2024