Several citizens of the country say that most Taliban mullahs, in their Friday sermons, emphasize obedience to the Taliban Supreme Leader and warn people against cooperating with or maintaining contact with fronts opposed to the group. They add that the topics discussed by Taliban mullahs on Fridays are mostly focused on issues related to women and on encouraging men to control the women of their families. Some mullahs under Taliban command say that if a mullah does not deliver a sermon in line with the topics determined by the Taliban, serious action is taken against him, and in some cases he is also detained.
Taqwa (pseudonym), a resident of Kabul, says that on many Fridays he has witnessed some mullahs devote a significant portion of their sermons to the subject of women and the restrictions imposed on them. He says it is worth reflecting on the distinction between Islamic teachings and the cultural and social interpretations and customs that are expressed in the name of Islam.
According to Taqwa, in the contemporary era, the hijab has turned from a religious matter into one of the tools for monitoring women’s presence in society, and in some cases women have also faced severe pressure and restrictions. He says: “If we limit the entire image of the Muslim woman to these matters alone, we have ignored a large part of Islamic history and sources. The Quran does not say that a woman is responsible only for the home; rather, it also addresses women in terms of religious and social responsibilities. Homemaking is valuable, but it should not be regarded as a woman’s entire identity.”
Gulab (pseudonym), a resident of Parwan Province, says that a major portion of the Taliban mullahs’ sermons in this province is focused on issues related to women. According to her, these sermons have also affected men’s behavior, and the way many of them treat the women of their families has changed.
She says: “Now, mullahs generally give sermons either out of enthusiasm or for the sake of Taliban propaganda. Most of their sermons are focused on women; they talk about women’s clothing, socializing, going out, and their responsibilities. Most men have also been influenced, and their treatment of women has changed. At home, if a woman says something, the men of the house say: you are the woman of the house; if you want clothes or something, your bread is provided, your water is provided; what more do you want?” According to this resident of Parwan, Taliban mullahs emphasize obedience to the group’s leader in their sermons and warn people against cooperating or maintaining contact with fronts opposed to the Taliban.
Gulab adds: “What is mostly taken from the Taliban mullahs’ sermons is that women should be occupied only with the home and raising children. Regarding men as well, they mostly warn people against contact or cooperation with fronts opposed to the Taliban, and they also emphasize obedience to Taliban officials, particularly the group’s leader.”
Bilal (pseudonym), a resident of Badakhshan Province, says that Taliban mullahs in this province call on people, in their Friday sermons, to follow the group’s system, and they refer to defiance of it as “rebellion,” considering those who disobey the orders of this system to be sinners.
This resident of Badakhshan says: “Taliban mullahs, in their Friday sermons in Badakhshan, say that people should follow the system. Those who act against the system and disobey the orders of the Amir, or who do disobey, are considered sinners and rebels. They also emphasize preventing prejudice.”
He adds: “Taliban mullahs also talk about women’s movement and observance of the hijab, and they ask women not to wear makeup, not to wear perfume, not to go anywhere without a mahram, not to ride in just any vehicle, and not to go out with a non-mahram.”
Parwiz (pseudonym), a resident of Mazar-e-Sharif city, the center of Balkh Province, says that every Thursday, all Taliban mullahs gather at the group’s Directorate of Guidance, Hajj and Endowments, where the topic of Friday’s sermon is explained to them.
This resident of Mazar-e-Sharif says: “Every week, on Thursday, all the mullahs at the city level and from areas outside the city gather at the Taliban’s Directorate of Guidance, Hajj and Endowments and hold a meeting with the head of the group’s council. At that same meeting, the topics to be discussed on Friday are given to them, and the mullahs are required to speak about the very topics that have been determined for them. Most of the time, social issues are discussed, except in weeks when a specific decree or order has been issued from Kandahar.”
Bahar (pseudonym), a resident of Herat Province, says that the topics discussed by Taliban mullahs on Fridays in this province are mostly focused on issues related to women and on encouraging men to control the women of their families.
Ms. Bahar says: “Taliban mullahs, in their Friday sermons, mostly talk about women’s hijab. They also try to encourage men to impose the group’s desired laws and restrictions on the women of their families.”
This resident of Herat adds: “Another matter that Taliban mullahs repeatedly discuss is praising and glorifying the group’s system.”
Meanwhile, Nematullah (pseudonym), one of the Taliban mullahs, says that if a mullah does not deliver a sermon in line with the topic determined by the Taliban, legal action is taken against him by the Taliban, and in some cases he is also detained.
This mullah says: “The sermon in Arabic, in which the name ‘Amir al-Mu’minin’ is invoked, is compiled at the central Darul Ifta in Kandahar. Friday sermons are also distributed weekly to mosques through the Directorate of Mosques of the Ministry of Guidance, Hajj and Endowments. Large mosques, which are attended by more people, are monitored by intelligence and the Ministry of Hajj and Endowments. In cases of violations by mullahs, action is taken against them, and in some cases Taliban intelligence also detains them.”
This comes as the Taliban, since retaking control, have made extensive use of mosques, media outlets, and social media networks for propaganda and to whitewash their performance.
The Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence has also created several media outlets, including a radio station, a news website, and online publications; outlets that are used to reinforce the group’s narratives and suppress dissenting voices.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
خطبههای نماز جمعه؛ طالبان مساجد را به تریبون تبلیغاتی خود تبدیل کردهاند
