Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has reaffirmed his regime’s commitment to enforcing strict Islamic law, including retribution (Qisas) and hudud punishments, stating that the group will not waver in the face of international condemnation.
Speaking at a religious seminar for Hajj instructors in Kandahar on Sunday, Akhundzada declared, “We are happy to have our heads cut off, but we are not happy if Sharia is not implemented.”
An audio recording of his remarks was shared on the social media platform X by Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat.
Referring to himself as Amir al-Mu’minin (Commander of the Faithful), Akhundzada claimed that loyalty to his leadership is equivalent to allegiance to God. “If these people are standing with me, they are standing with God. They are aligned with God’s Sharia,” he said. “May the day never come when we compromise on Sharia.”
He criticised the international community, particularly Western countries, for opposing the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic law. Despite pressure, he vowed that the Taliban would continue to enforce their policies, even by coercive means.
“In the past, words were spoken without force. Now, it is a matter of law — whether someone accepts it or not, we will impose it by force,” he warned.
Nearly four years since seizing power, the Taliban has yet to receive formal recognition from any country. Even those considered sympathetic or maintaining close ties have refrained from granting official legitimacy.
The group’s hardline governance, especially the continued ban on girls’ education and the exclusion of women from public and professional life, has attracted widespread criticism, including from Muslim-majority states. International appeals for moderation have thus far been dismissed by the Taliban leadership, deepening the regime’s isolation on the global stage.
