Taliban Announce Major Shake-Up in Senior Judicial, Educational Posts

DID Press: In a continued reshuffling of internal power structures, Taliban’s supreme leader has issued new decrees replacing six senior officials within the judiciary and the Ministry of Education.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban government, confirmed the appointments were made under orders from Hibatullah Akhundzada, the group’s leader.

According to the decree, Sheikh Sardar Mohammad Abu al-Fayzan was reassigned from Deputy Chief Justice for Judicial Affairs and head of the Southwest Appellate Division to Deputy Chief Justice for Military Affairs. Sheikh Noorullah Munir, former head of the Central Fatwa Council, has now been appointed Deputy Chief Justice for Judicial Affairs.

Other changes include Sakhawullah Saeed’s transfer from deputy minister of education to Deputy Chief Justice for Administrative and Financial Affairs, and Abdul Malik Haqqani’s move to Deputy Minister for General Education. Khairjan Khairkhah, previously Deputy Chief Justice for Military Affairs, is now head of the Central Fatwa Council. Meanwhile, Sharafuddin Yassini has been appointed head of the Southwest Criminal Court.

The reshuffle comes amid reports of recent tensions between the Taliban’s supreme leader and officials in the Ministry of Information and Culture over media-related issues, which previously led to the dismissal of Acting Minister Khairullah Khairkhah.