KABUL, Aug 11, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - A senior Taliban cleric known for his
fiery speeches against the Islamic State (IS) was killed Thursday at his
madrassa in the Afghan capital in a suicide attack claimed by the jihadist
group.
Rahimullah Haqqani, who had recently spoken publicly in favour of girls
being allowed to attend school, had survived at least two previous
assassination attempts -- including one in Pakistan in October 2020.
"The madrassa of Sheikh Rahimullah was targeted today and as a result he
and one of his brothers were martyred," Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran
told AFP, adding that three others were wounded in the blast.
Zadran had earlier said that only Haqqani was killed and four others
wounded.
Government spokesman Bilal Karimi confirmed his death "in an attack carried
out by a cowardly enemy", but did not offer further details.
Hours later, IS claimed the attack on its telegram channels, saying the
bomber had detonated his explosive vest inside the office of the cleric.
Haqqani was one of the most "prominent advocates for the Taliban and one of
the biggest of them who incited to fight" IS, jihadist monitoring group SITE
said, translating a statement from IS.
Taliban sources said that although he held no official position, Haqqani
was an influential figure who had taught many of the group's members over the
years.
Scores of Taliban officials took to social media to express their
condolences.
"You have fulfilled your responsibility. Destiny cannot be prevented, but
the Muslim community has been orphaned," tweeted Mobin Khan, a former spokesman
for the Kabul police.
Haqqani was known for angry speeches against IS, who have claimed several
attacks in Afghanistan since the Taliban's return to power in August last year.
In recent months, he also backed the right of girls to attend school.
"There is no justification in sharia to say female education is not
allowed. No justification at all," he told the BBC in an interview in May.
Since seizing power a year ago, the Taliban have imposed harsh restrictions
on girls and women to comply with their austere vision of Islam.
They have not allowed secondary schools for girls to reopen in most of the
country.