Moroccan Salafists hail Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan

Salafi figures in Morocco hailed the ‘victory’ of the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, calling it a “liberation from the American occupation.”

Moroccan Islamist groups haven’t yet commented on the power grab in Afghanistan, but several figures of the Salafist movement in the country reacted immediately, hailing the collapse of the Afghan army and calling it a “victory” for the Taliban.

Salafist Sheikh Hassan Kettani, who holds the presidency of the Rabita of the Ulema of the Arab Maghreb said he was joyful over the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban.
“It’s a day of joy and happiness. God is great and made sure to allow us to live to witness this victory, ”he wrote on his Twitter account.
“I cried 20 years ago after the fall of the Islamic Emirate,” “today, we cry with joy for this return,” he added.

Salafist Al Bachir Issam Al Marrakchi wrote “Thank god for the blessings. After nearly twenty years, Afghanistan is liberated from the American occupation and the Taliban are returning to power,” he wrote on his Facebook account using the hashtag #AfghanistanIsLiberated.

The Taliban captured Afghanistan’s capital Kabul on Sunday, 20 years after they were ousted from power, and gave their first press conference on Tuesday night saying it wishes to hold peaceful relations with world nations.

“I would like to assure the international community, including the United States that nobody will be harmed in Afghanistan. I would like to assure our neighbors, regional countries, we are not going to allow our territory to be used against anybody,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said during the press conference.

He promised the Group would respect women’s rights, and protect foreigners still present in the country, as the Group strives to prove it has changed.