KABUL: The Afghanistan Human Rights Center has reported that the Taliban’s penal code limits freedom of expression, formalizes slavery, and imposes severe penalties on women. The organization stated that domestic violence against women is deemed insignificant, and women who return to their fathers’ or relatives’ homes face harsh punishments. For instance, violence from husbands resulting in broken bones or severe bruising is met with only 14 days of imprisonment. Additionally, women who convert away from Islam may be sentenced to life imprisonment and whipped three times daily until they repent. Criticism of the Taliban government is also criminalized, with insulting the group’s leader resulting in two years of imprisonment and 90 lashes. The Afghanistan Human Rights Center has urged the United Nations and the international community to prevent the normalization of this penal code, warning that legitimizing slavery poses a significant threat to Afghanistan and the world.
