A group of Muslim clerics recently went on a “fact-finding” mission to Afghanistan, subsequently praising “beautiful” Taliban leaders for revitalizing the nation’s “freedom.” Their trip, organized by UK-based non-profit Prosper Afghanistan and the Human Aid & Advocacy group, sought to dispel alleged myths and distortions about the war-ravaged Middle Eastern nation following the U.S. military withdrawal in 2021.
Speaking at a recent event at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), the group credited the Taliban-led government with instilling peace and reducing the corruption persistent under two decades of Western-backed leadership.
“We went to Afghanistan with a very open mind… it brought back to me the stories of the Sahaba (the companions of Muhammad) that we read,” said Mufti Ismail Satia, a member of the group. “They reminded me of those who sacrificed for Islam and those who were willing to do anything for Islam.”
Hamid Mahmood, the founder of an Islamic girls’ school in London, told the audience he felt freedom in the Taliban’s theocracy. “It was somewhat a quite sad and painful experience leaving that land because I will be very honest and I’ve said this very clearly that there was something there, a feeling [of] outright freedom,” he said. “After speaking to many ministers we realized what freedom meant. They were trying to free themselves not just from physical oppression, physical subjugation, and colonialism but also financial, economic, and also intellectual enslavement.”
Shaykh Haitham Al-Haddad, another member of the group, defended the Taliban’s restricting girl’s education. “Western secular influences were being driven into the minds of the students who were speaking against the Shariah and many vices were creeping in… when it is time to rebuild the country we cannot tolerate division and therefore temporary suspension of liberal, secular education took place.”
The UK has struggled to integrate its large Muslim population, many of whom hold extremist views and sympathize with terrorism.
.jpg){kind=link}
