A funeral prayer and memorial service for Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani, the Taliban’s Minister of Refugee and Repatriation, organized by several Afghan citizens residing in Germany at the Hamza Grand Mosque in Frankfurt, has sparked widespread reactions. A group of human rights activists, in an open letter to the German government, called granting permission for this event a disrespect to the blood of thousands of civilians who lost their lives in suicide attacks orchestrated by the Haqqani Network and the Taliban. They labeled this move as an open endorsement of terrorism in Europe and demanded a thorough investigation into the matter.
The event reportedly was organized by members of the Zadran ethnic group, with one organizer describing Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani as a “hero, a Mujahid, and a Ghazi.” In contrast, Afghan human rights and civil activists, who refer to him as a “terrorist responsible for mass killings of both military personnel and civilians,” have called for transparent investigations into how permission was granted for the ceremony. They also urged authorities to monitor the activities and connections of individuals associated with terrorist groups.
Several Afghan citizens in Frankfurt, reportedly from the Zadran tribe, held funeral prayers and a memorial service for Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani, who was killed in a suicide attack in Kabul. Videos circulating on social media show groups of men attending the event. In a speech, one organizer praised Haqqani as a “hero, Mujahid, Ghazi, and brother in faith,” claiming the Haqqani family had made significant sacrifices for their cause.
Meanwhile, a group of human rights activists strongly opposed the event in an open letter to the German government. These activists urged Germany to respond to what they described as promoting terrorism and violence by allowing such ceremonies. They emphasized that holding a memorial for a senior member of the “Haqqani terrorist network” not only damages Germany’s credibility but also poses negative implications for Afghan migrant communities in the country.
The letter further stated: “This act disregards the suffering of terrorism victims and blatantly violates the democratic and human rights principles that Germany claims to uphold. The Haqqani Network and the Taliban are directly responsible for thousands of terrorist attacks, massacres of civilians, and widespread human rights violations in Afghanistan. Hosting such an event for a key figure of this group legitimizes the perpetrators of these atrocities and is a clear insult to their victims.”
The activists called on the German government to urgently conduct transparent investigations into how permission was granted for the memorial service and to address concerns about the misuse of civil and religious freedoms. They also highlighted the need for strict monitoring of groups linked to terrorism and for identifying and prosecuting individuals with connections to the Taliban and other terrorist organizations.
The letter also called for a thorough review of the background of migrants involved in organizing the event. It referenced the Haqqani Network’s attack on the German Embassy in Kabul during the previous government’s era, urging that the victims of terrorism, especially innocent Afghan civilians, should not be forgotten.
Several Afghan migrants in Europe, particularly social media users, reacted strongly to the event, interpreting it as a blatant endorsement of terrorism. They demanded that Germany deport the organizers of the memorial, arguing that these individuals appeared to have no issues with the Taliban.
Farshid, an Afghan refugee in Germany, stated, “The organizers have clearly shown that the Taliban influences in Europe. Their presence is a wake-up call for Europe. These individuals are likely the same ones who claimed their lives were at risk in Afghanistan.”
Previously, Qari Saeed Khosty, a former Taliban Ministry of Interior spokesperson, had publicly threatened the group’s opponents abroad, stating, “Stab the fugitives one by one. If anyone preaches against the country, go and kill them. They are ruthless, horrifying beasts.”
Concerns about the memorial for Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani come as the German newspaper Bild reported that German police were aware of the event, which was organized by the “Association of Afghans in Hesse.” The police, the Federal Intelligence Agency, and the Hesse State Criminal Police Office monitored the situation on-site.
The United States has designated the Haqqani Network as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. According to the U.S. Rewards for Justice website, Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani has been aiding Taliban members in Logar Province since 2010.
The U.S. Treasury Department also declared him a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” in February 2011, subjecting him to sanctions and criminalizing any financial dealings with him.
Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani was killed on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, in a suicide bombing, responsibility for which was claimed by ISIS. The attack also killed six others.
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