Taliban Holds Eid al-Fitr Prayers a Day Earlier Than Many Islamic Countries

The Taliban declared Eid al-Fitr on Thursday and held prayers that morning, one day earlier than most Islamic countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait, which set the holiday for Friday after announcing the Shawwal crescent was not sighted.

Turkey and Australia confirmed Friday as Eid based on astronomical calculations, while Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Palestine and the Maldives also observed it on Friday. Taliban officials said large numbers of people in the provinces of Helmand, Ghor and Farah reported sighting the Shawwal crescent. The Taliban previously followed Saudi Arabia in announcing Eid dates. Alongside Afghanistan, Nigeria and Mali also began Eid on Thursday.

In a speech at the Eidgah Mosque in Kandahar, Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah declared himself the leader of Muslims and said he would guide them to God's path. "I am compelled, I am the leader of these Muslims and I will definitely guide them to God's path," he said. He emphasized implementing his orders for reforming the people and called on everyone to unite and support the Taliban government.

Sources from various provinces reported that the Taliban forced people to attend Eid prayers. In Herat, the Taliban detained and imprisoned a number of Shia clerics for opposing the group's announcement of Eid al-Fitr.