KABUL: The George W. Bush Cultural and Research Center has reported that the newly enacted penal code (the Principles of Criminal Procedures) by the Taliban creates a framework for slavery and violence against Afghan citizens. According to the report, the penal code encourages corporal punishment for individuals deemed “wrongfully” accused by Taliban leaders. It emphasizes absolute loyalty to Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. The report states that the penal code includes over 200 directives and commands from the Taliban leader, many of which target women and minorities. Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, violence and oppression in their efforts to maintain control over society have been central to their operations. The George W. Bush Cultural Center emphasizes that this penal code undermines Afghanistan’s previous constitution and the national penal code of the former government, violating the fundamental rights of citizens. The report highlights that class discrimination and patriarchy in society have intensified, with senior Taliban officials being immune to punishments, while ordinary citizens, especially women and minorities, face lashes, imprisonment, fines, and even execution. Additionally, women’s movements in Afghanistan, including “Window of Hope,” “Elite Women,” and “Afghan Women in Exile,” have issued statements asserting that the penal code is a tool for systematically violating human rights and discrimination against women, stripping citizens of fundamental rights such as equality before the law and the right to have legal representation. In response to the criticism, the Taliban’s Ministry of Justice has labeled these protests as “an objection against Sharia and crime,” stating that legal action will follow. The ministry claims that Taliban laws are “in accordance with Islamic Sharia,” and any criticism is considered to lack a legal and scientific basis.
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