The National Resistance Front (NRF) has raised serious concerns over a speech made by a Taliban official in Germany.
Ali Maisam Nazary, the NRF's Head of Foreign Relations, has urged German authorities to prevent their country from becoming a platform for spreading extremist ideologies and terrorism.
Nazary's comments come in the wake of a controversial speech by Abdul Bari Omar, the Taliban's Food and Drug Administration director, at an Islamic center in Cologne. This event has caused reactions among Afghan expatriates in the city and drawn criticism from German citizens and officials.
Nazary highlighted the dangers of the "genocidal and totalitarian ideology" promoted by Taliban figures like Omar, emphasizing the global threat they pose. The NRF representative called for a unified stand against terrorism amidst rising global concerns.
Omar's presence in Germany has been widely criticized. Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesperson, defended Omar's speech, saying it focused on Afghanistan's security and reconstruction. However, Tim Achtermeyer, a member of the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament, condemned the event, expressing dismay over the platform given to the Taliban.
The German Foreign Ministry has also responded, condemning Omar's speech and presence, and investigating his entry into the country. The Ministry clarified that it does not recognize the Taliban government and did not issue a visa to Omar.
The Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs, which owns the building where Omar spoke, stated that their trust was abused. They claimed that an Afghan association had requested the space for a religious ceremony, which unexpectedly turned into a political rally featuring Omar, who was "unknown" to the union.
Despite the controversy, Omar defended the Taliban government in his speech, urging the audience to consider their "achievements" rather than media portrayals. He also shared images and videos of his speech on social media.
On 6 November, the Taliban-controlled Bakhtar News Agency reported Omar's attendance at the World Local Production Forum in The Hague, Netherlands.