How Taliban's New Criminal Code Legalises Slavery, Grants Clerics Immunity

Afghanistan’s new criminal code shows Taliban hasn’t changed. And this time, West is distracted

ThePrint view on the most important issues.

How Taliban's new criminal code legalises slavery, grants clerics immunity

Taliban’s Criminal Procedure Code for Courts segregates Afghan society into four classes – mullahs, tribal elders, middle class and lower class – and affixes punishment according to the social status of the accused. It also legalises slavery

Taliban Introduce New Criminal Code in Afghanistan

At first glance, the criminal code appears to be a typical legal framework. But the state’s goal is not to protect citizens, but to control them.

Taliban bring varna system in Afghanistan, make mullahs untouchable

Afghanistan's Taliban's newly issued Criminal Procedure Code has triggered alarm among rights groups about dividing Afghan society into rigid classes, where religious elites (mullahs) will enjoy near-immunity from punishment for crimes. Critics say the Taliban have revived slavery-like legal categories and given legal sanctity to violence.

US senator says Taliban judicial code signals return of slavery

Jim Risch, chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has said Taliban have approved the return of slavery in Afghanistan by endorsing a new judicial code, calling for funding to the Taliban to be cut. He said in a post on X that the Taliban’s approval of the judicial rules marked a further regression for Afghanistan. “The Taliban has now approved the return of slavery in Afghanistan. We must defund the Taliban,” Risch said. “Not onl…