RASC News Agency: Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s Ambassador and Special Envoy for Afghanistan, condemned the Taliban representative’s refusal to honor Iran’s national anthem, calling the act “senseless.” In a post on social media platform X, Qomi stated, “Citing a ban on music under Sharia law as an excuse for violating diplomatic norms is meaningless. If playing music is prohibited, listening to it should be forbidden as well.”
This response follows an incident where the Taliban representative at the 38th International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran refused to stand for the Iranian national anthem, in the presence of Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian. This is not the first instance of the Taliban showing disrespect towards national anthems. Previously, the Taliban’s consul in Peshawar ignored Pakistan’s national anthem, similarly attributing the act to the inclusion of music.
Following that incident, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the acting Taliban ambassador in Islamabad, warning that such “insulting behavior” would prompt a firm response. Kazemi Qomi’s criticism of the Taliban’s undiplomatic actions comes despite his known role as one of the group’s key lobbyists in Iran. His support for the Taliban is considered as influential as that of Zalmay Khalilzad and Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s envoy. It has been said that Qomi is one of the few individuals whose views on Afghanistan are taken seriously by Iran’s leadership, with his reports often reflecting a pro-Taliban stance that aligns with their interests.
