The Taliban’s supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhunzada, has warned that Afghans who fail to show gratitude for the group’s rule will face severe punishment from God. His statement, issued on Friday to mark the fourth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power, came as the regime celebrated “Victory Day,” recalling the chaotic U.S. and NATO withdrawal from Kabul in 2021.
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In his address, Akhunzada claimed that Afghans had endured hardships for decades to establish strict religious governance, which he said rescued the nation from corruption, crime, and exploitation. He stressed that citizens must remain thankful for what he described as “divine blessings,” warning that ingratitude would invite God’s wrath.
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The Taliban leader also instructed government ministers to drop the term “acting” from their titles, signaling a push to solidify the group’s long-term control of Afghanistan. This move comes even as the Taliban remains diplomatically isolated, with Russia being the only nation so far to officially recognize the administration.
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Across Afghanistan, Victory Day celebrations included parades and ceremonies, with helicopters in Kabul scheduled to scatter flowers over the capital. However, images from official events showed exclusively male audiences, reflecting the Taliban’s strict exclusion of women from public life.
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In defiance, the United Afghan Women’s Movement for Freedom staged a protest in Takhar province, calling the day “a black domination” that stripped women of rights to education, work, and social life. “This is an open wound of history,” the group declared. Afghan women also staged a parallel protest in Islamabad, Pakistan.
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Human rights groups and international organizations, including the United Nations, have consistently condemned the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls. Under current rules, women are banned from most jobs, education, and even public spaces such as parks and gyms. They must wear a full-body cloak and are forbidden from singing or reciting poetry publicly.
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Adding to international pressure, the International Criminal Court last month issued arrest warrants against Akhunzada and the Taliban’s chief justice on charges of gender-based persecution, underscoring the regime’s growing isolation on the global stage.
