Taliban Declare Protests Against Their Laws a ‘Crime,’ Warn Critics of Prosecution

Taliban Declare Protests Against Their Laws a ‘Crime,’ Warn Critics of Prosecution
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The Taliban have announced that protesting against their laws constitutes a “crime” under Islamic law and warned that critics will be referred to the judiciary for prosecution, responding to growing criticism of the group’s penal code.

Afghan media reported that the Taliban’s Ministry of Justice said in a statement that the movement’s legislative documents are derived from the Quran, the Sunnah, and authoritative Hanafi jurisprudence texts. The ministry argued that any objection to these laws amounts to an objection to Islamic law, asserting that the regulations contain no provisions that contradict sharia or lack a recognized religious source.

The ministry added that criticism of Taliban laws has no religious or scholarly basis and described it as stemming from ignorance or negligence. It said such اعتراضات are classified as crimes under sharia and that those who voice them will be referred to judicial bodies for legal action.

The statement followed the recent signing by the Taliban leader of a “code of conduct for criminal courts,” a move that has prompted widespread reactions and drawn concern from political and human rights groups.

The Tolerance Human Rights Organization said the document labels followers of Islamic schools other than the Hanafi school as innovators and legitimizes social classification and slavery. The group added that the code limits the prohibition of violence against women and children to severe physical harm, excluding psychological or sexual violence.

The organization also said the document describes Taliban opponents as rebels and includes orders to kill them, warning that the rules undermine fair trial standards and increase the risks of repression, arbitrary detention, and torture.