Taliban bans poppy cultivation in Afghanistan

The leader of Afghanistan's Taliban movement on Sunday ordered a ban on opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, warning that the hardline Islamic government would crack down on farmers who grow the crop.

Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of poppy, a source of sap that is refined into heroin, and whose production and exports have boomed in recent years.

"All Afghans have been informed that from now on, poppy cultivation will be strictly prohibited throughout the country," said a decree issued by the movement's leader, Hebatullah Akhundzada.

The decree was read by Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in a meeting with journalists, foreign diplomats and Taliban officials.

The decree added, "If anyone violates the decree, the crop will be destroyed immediately, and the violator will be dealt with according to Islamic law."

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