Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban’s minister for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice, has emerged as one of most notorious figures since the Taliban’s return to power.
The international community identifies him as a major violator of human rights, particularly for his role in enforcing the Taliban’s draconian laws that have severely restricted the freedoms of Afghan citizens, especially women.
Born in 1971 in Nuristan, Afghanistan, Hanafi was raised in a religious and jihadist family. He pursued religious education in various madrasas in Afghanistan and Pakistan, including the Haqqania madrassa, known for its ties to the Taliban leadership. Before his rise to power, he spent years teaching in religious schools, further embedding himself in the ideological framework that now drives the Taliban’s policies.
Despite being sanctioned by both the United Nations and the European Union, Hanafi has continued to play a crucial role within the Taliban’s governance structure. His ministry, notorious for imposing some of the harshest restrictions on Afghan society, has been at the forefront of the Taliban’s campaign to curtail women’s rights. These measures include banning women from public parks, restricting their freedom of movement, and enforcing strict dress codes under the guise of Islamic law.
Hanafi’s hardline stance on women’s rights reduces their role in society to the confines of marriage, inheritance, and religious obligations. His rhetoric has made it clear that the Taliban’s interpretation of Sharia law, particularly regarding the hijab and women’s public presence, is non-negotiable. “We can let go of anything, but we cannot let go of Sharia. Sharia and hijab are our red lines because our goal was to implement an Islamic system,” he declared at a recent gathering.
Hanafi is closely linked to the Haqqani network, an influential faction within the Taliban, and maintains a close relationship with the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. His loyalty and alignment with Akhundzada’s vision have resulted in expanded authority over the Taliban’s executive and judicial bodies, further entrenching his influence in the regime’s oppressive rule.
In recent years, Hanafi’s actions have drawn widespread condemnation, both domestically and internationally. Afghan women, in particular, have borne the brunt of his policies. “For three years, Afghan women have been forced to obey the orders and decrees of the Taliban, which are issued by Khalid Hanafi. Khalid Hanafi himself is a misogynist and has a personal hatred, which he tries to impose on Afghan women,” said a Kabul resident, reflecting the deep-seated resentment against his ministry’s actions.
Under Hanafi’s leadership, the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has been empowered to detain and punish those who defy its strictures, further entrenching the Taliban’s control over Afghan society. The ministry’s reach extends beyond dress codes and social behavior, encompassing restrictions on cultural practices and the very presence of women in public life.
As Afghanistan continues to grapple with the consequences of the Taliban’s rule, Khalid Hanafi remains a pivotal figure in the regime’s efforts to impose its austere interpretation of Islamic law, with profound and devastating effects on the country’s social fabric.
