Taliban deny Mullah Omar is dead
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 20 July 2011 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Taliban deny Mullah Omar is dead, 20 July 2011, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4e39056ec.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
July 20, 2011
The Tolonews website runs a story on its front page reporting about news of the death of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar in Kabul on May 23, 2011
Taliban spokesmen have denied reports the movement's supreme leader Mullah Omar has died.
The spokesmen say their phones had been hacked and false text messages sent out.
One of the spokesmen, Zabiullah Mujahid, accused "American intelligence" of being behind the false reports and vowed revenge.
The messages came from phone numbers used in the past by both Mujahid and a second spokesman Mohammad Qari Yousuf and said "spiritual Leader Mullah Mohammad Omar Mujahid has died" and "May Allah bless his soul".
The death of Mullah Omar was reported in May, by media including Afghanistan's private TV station TOLO.
That report was widely dismissed by security officials in Pakistan and diplomats, U.S. military commanders and government officials in Afghanistan.
The one-eyed, reclusive leader is one of the most wanted men in the world, and is believed to be living in Pakistan, probably in the city of Quetta.
Pakistan and the Taliban movement both deny this and say he is in Afghanistan.
compiled from agency reports
Link to original story on RFE/RL website