A high school teacher in Paktika Province in southeastern Afghanistan has been sentenced to death by a Taliban court on charges of blasphemy, according to local sources, in a case that has drawn concern from his colleagues and locals who say personal rivalries may be behind the accusation.
Abdul Aleem Khamoosh, the principal of Janikhel High School in Paktika, was detained by the Taliban around 20 days ago and later convicted by a local court for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad, several residents familiar with the case told independent media outlets.
The sentence — capital punishment — was handed down by a Taliban court in the district, though Taliban officials have not publicly confirmed the ruling.
Colleagues and acquaintances of Khamoosh contend the accusation was rooted not in religious offense, but in professional and personal enmity. The teacher had reportedly emphasized the value of modern sciences in the school curriculum — a stance that some locals interpreted as controversial or unorthodox.
Shortly after his arrest, a man named Mawlawi Mujahid, believed to be the brother of a member of the Taliban’s provincial ulema council, was appointed as the new head of the school. A letter confirming his appointment was circulated by local sources and viewed by journalists.
Several educators in the region described the blasphemy charge as a pretext to remove Khamoosh from his post. “This was a political maneuver, cloaked in religious language,” said one teacher, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal.
The case echoes broader concerns about restrictions on freedom of expression and academic independence under Taliban rule. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have detained, dismissed or threatened numerous educators over curriculum content and speech deemed contrary to their interpretation of Islamic principles.
Rights groups have warned that such incidents erode cultural and educational rights in Taliban-administered areas, where dissent is often met with severe punishment and legal recourse remains limited.
Taliban have not commented publicly on Khamoosh’s case, nor has it been confirmed whether he will be granted an appeal under the Taliban’s judicial system. Afghanistan’s law under the Taliban is based on their interpretation of Islamic jurisprudence and does not follow the procedures of the former republican legal framework.
