Taliban Cleric’s Alarming Sermon Stirs Controversy Over Religious Manipulation

A revealing video featuring Mirajuddin Keshki, a Taliban-affiliated cleric, has surfaced, making alarming claims about the group’s opponents. He has declared that forming alliances with critical figures is a matter of life and death and has urged Taliban-supported clerics to propagate this message in mosques.

Mirajuddin Keshki’s Claims in Friday Sermon

The release of a video showcasing Mirajuddin Keshki’s statements, a pro-Taliban cleric in Herat, has unveiled troubling layers of the group’s Takfiri campaign. During his sermon on Friday (November 1), he declared that aligning with critics such as Abdullah Abdullah and Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayyaf is religiously deemed “a matter of death.” Furthermore, he stated that conducting the funeral prayer for those killed alongside these individuals is not permissible.

Guidelines from the Taliban’s Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs

Informed sources told Jamhor News that the Taliban’s Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs is pressuring its clerics weekly to transform their religious platforms into tools for denouncing opponents by sending them dictated guidelines. This trend has gradually led to increased involvement from the Taliban’s intelligence agency.

Distribution of Cash to Friday Clerics

Credible reports indicate that Taliban intelligence teams, following recent incidents, have been distributing amounts ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 Afghanis along with specific directives to Friday clerics in various provinces. This initiative aims to stir public sentiment and create the impression that Islam is under threat.

Public Criticism Over Misinterpretation of Quranic Verses

Experts and local sources report that some clerics affiliated with the Taliban are not only mispronouncing Quranic verses but are also distorting the meanings and interpretations of the Holy Quran to serve political ends. This trend has sparked serious concerns among the populace.