The Taliban-run Ministry of Justice announced on Thursday that any criticism of laws and legislative documents approved by its leader will be treated as “objections to Sharia” and those who speak out will be referred to court.
In a statement released by the ministry, it asserted that all laws enacted by the Taliban are “entirely in accordance with Sharia,” and any opposition to them is deemed unacceptable.
The ministry further warned that individuals who criticize these laws, either in the media or in public forums, with the intention of undermining or opposing them, will face legal action.
This announcement follows the introduction of the Taliban’s “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” law last month, which has sparked strong domestic and international backlash. Among its provisions is the prohibition of women’s voices in public spaces, a rule that has caused widespread concern.
Three years after the Taliban’s return to power, the future of Afghanistan’s constitution remains unclear. Earlier this year, the Taliban’s Minister of Justice dismissed criticisms over the lack of a formal constitution, insisting that the group’s laws are based on the Quran, Hadith, and the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence.
However, this approach has been sharply criticized by legal experts and segments of Afghanistan’s society, particularly as the country has a significant Shia population that follows the Ja’fari school of thought, which is excluded under the Taliban’s legal framework.
The absence of a constitution is contributing to what legal experts and citizens describe as increasing instability in the country.
