Archive · 13 Nov 2025
Taliban Leader Listed as Academic Supporter for Anti-Hindutva Event
Imagine a big meeting at a university in America where some people wanted to talk about why they don't like a certain idea called 'Hindutva.'
They made a list of grown-up smart people, called academics, who agreed with them.
But, a group of Hindu people noticed something very surprising on that list: the leader of the Taliban, who is in charge of Afghanistan and known for strict rules, was also on the list of supporters!
The Hindu group thinks this is strange and asks if it's fair to call this 'academic freedom' when someone like the Taliban leader is involved.
They also wonder if the professors who organized the meeting checked who their supporters were.
An anti-Hindutva conference held in 2021 at Rutgers University included Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada on its list of academic supporters.
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) flagged this inclusion, noting it has been on the list for over four years.
Professors Audrey Truschke and Sahar Aziz at Rutgers University played key roles in the conference and a related report.
CoHNA questions the definition of 'academic freedom' when such figures are listed as supporters and calls for scrutiny by universities.
The Taliban leader's official title is Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, with his decisions being law.
- Who
- The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) and academics involved with the 'Dismantling Global Hindutva' conference.
- What
- CoHNA revealed that the supreme leader of the Taliban, Hibatullah Akhundzada, was listed as an 'academic supporter' for an anti-Hindutva conference held in 2021.
- When
- The conference took place in 2021, and the information about the supporter list has been public for over four years.
- Where
- Rutgers University in the United States.
- Why
- CoHNA raised concerns about the inclusion of a Taliban leader as an academic supporter, questioning the nature of 'academic freedom' and the agenda of the conference.
Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA)
Event Organizers/Academic Supporters (Implied)
Inclusion of Taliban Leader
Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA)
CoHNA highlights the inclusion of Hibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Taliban, on a list of academic supporters for the 'Dismantling Global Hindutva' (DGH) conference, questioning the nature of 'academic freedom' and the vetting process by academics like Prof. Audrey Truschke.
Event Organizers/Academic Supporters (Implied)
The DGH conference organizers proudly publicized a list of academic supporters, implying they considered Akhundzada a legitimate supporter of their research and agenda.
Nature of the Conference
Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA)
CoHNA views the 'Dismantling Global Hindutva' conference, with the Taliban leader as a supporter, as an anti-Hindu event that potentially misuses the concept of academic freedom.
Event Organizers/Academic Supporters (Implied)
The conference aimed to dismantle Hindutva, framed as an academic pursuit supported by various scholars and individuals.
- Event Name
- Dismantling Global Hindutva (DGH) Conference
- Event Year
- 2021
- University
- Rutgers University
- Key Academics Involved
- Prof. Audrey Truschke, Prof. Sahar Aziz
- Accused Supporter
- Hibatullah Akhundzada (Taliban Supreme Leader)
- Accusation Source
- Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA)