An Afghan human rights organization has expressed serious concern over the Taliban’s new criminal code for Afghan courts.
According to an Afghan journal, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has recently approved new criminal procedure regulations for Taliban courts, and the criminal code has been issued for enforcement across Afghan judicial institutions.
The human rights group Rawadari says the Taliban’s criminal code amounts to discrimination against minorities, restricts fundamental freedoms, and permits arbitrary arrests and punishments.
The group stated that the Taliban criminal code contradicts international human rights standards and does not guarantee the right to legal counsel, the right to remain silent, or the right to compensation.
According to the human rights group, other basic safeguards required for a fair trial have also not been provided. Some provisions of the Taliban criminal code could pave the way for extrajudicial killings of opponents, and the code criminalizes criticism of the Taliban.
The group further claimed that the Taliban criminal code supports social hierarchy and slavery, ignores psychological and sexual violence against women and children, and includes discriminatory provisions that target minorities in Afghanistan.
The human rights group demanded the immediate suspension of the criminal code due to its violations of human rights.
According to the Afghan journal, the Taliban have not commented on the report.
