Mawlawi Abdul Hamid, a Sunni preacher in Zahedan, has again advised the Taliban to not prevent Afghan women from education. The Iranian cleric also urged the Taliban to include other ethnicities and religious groups in their government.
He said that his criticism of the Taliban is constructive. The Iranian Sunni preacher had previously called on the Taliban to reverse their decision on the ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan.
In his message to the Taliban, he said that his previous support for the group was because he considers the jihad of any country against the "occupation" forces right and believes that no country, Islamic or non-Islamic is allowed to occupy any other country’s geography.
"Our support for the Taliban was spiritual and we prayed for them and we knew this jihad was right," he said. "Today, when the Taliban ruled the country and formed an Islamic State, I advise them not to prevent women's education even for a day, let women get education according to Islamic principles."
The Iranian Sunni cleric added that he believes in "constructive criticism" and "the Taliban know that we are not enemies, we want their good”.
Since their return to power in August 2021, the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on Afghan women.
The Taliban have shut down schools for secondary and higher education and have prevented girls from education in universities.
