Hibatullah Achundzada

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Mawlawi Hibatullah Achundsada ( Persian مولوى هبت الله آخوندزاده, DMG Maulawī Hibat-Allāh-i Āḫūndzāda , in English-language media also Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada ) has been the leader of the Taliban since May 2016, succeeding Akhtar Mansur .

It is believed that Achundsada was born in 1961 and is from the Kandahar province of Afghanistan . According to a study published in February 2016 by the research institute Afghanistan Analysts Network, he is described in various sources as a former Chief Justice of the Taliban, as its deputy or as the former head of the Taliban courts of law. A source from the ranks of the Taliban describes him as a hardliner. An example of this is the destruction of the Buddha statues in Bamiyan in 2001. While there were also votes against their destruction among the Taliban, Achundsada voted firmly in favor. He is one of the few men who have enjoyed the trust of long-time Taliban leader Mohammed Omar . Achundsada's deputies are Mohammed Yakub , son of Mohammed Omar, and Siradschuddin Haqqani , son of Jalaluddin Haqqani .

According to press research, Achundsada apparently worked for 15 years as a preacher and religion teacher in a mosque in Kuchlak near Quetta in Pakistan until two days before he was proclaimed Mansur's successor in the Taliban leadership .

Individual evidence

  1. See BBC News .
  2. After the killing of leader Mansur: Taliban appoint new boss . Tagesschau.de, May 25, 2016.
  3. New Taliban leader: An unclear picture . Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, May 25, 2016.
  4. Afghan Taliban announce successor to Mullah Mansour BBC News, July 25, 2016. (English)
  5. Mehreen Zahra-Malik: "Exclusive: Afghan Taliban leader taught, preached in Pakistan, despite government vow to crack down" Reuters, October 9, 2016