Taliban Minister of Virtue and Vice Says World Has No Right to Interfere in Afghanistan's Internal Affairs

Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban minister of virtue and vice, made the remarks during a three-day seminar in Kabul attended by 550 inspectors drawn from all 34 provinces. He stated that differences among Afghans created by the enemies of religion have been eliminated since the Taliban administration took power and that ill-wishers of Islam have been defeated. Hanafi urged the inspectors to promote religious values with full commitment while exercising patience and forbearance.

The minister said inspectors must master Islamic rulings, describing the promotion of religious values as both a religious and official duty. The virtue and vice law grants inspectors extensive powers to monitor citizens' behavior and conduct inspections of thought and conduct.

The seminar took place against a backdrop of international criticism of Taliban policies on human rights and women's restrictions. Criticism has increased following recent arrests of women and the suppression of protests in Herat. Hanafi did not address those events during his speech.