RASC News Agency: The Ministry of Justice of the Taliban announced in an official statement on Wednesday, 28 January, that any protest or criticism of laws issued by the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” constitutes both a violation of domestic law and a challenge to Islamic Sharia, and that violators will face legal prosecution.
The statement claims that all legal documents issued under the Taliban are fully aligned with Sharia, and are endorsed by recognized religious authorities. According to the ministry, any objection or critique lacks legitimate religious or scholarly basis, and those expressing dissent are committing a crime, subject to referral to judicial authorities.
The declaration emphasizes that religious councils, the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court, and the office of the Taliban leader have reviewed all laws and that none contradicts Islamic principles. This framing effectively conflates legal critique with blasphemy, criminalizing civil dissent.
This official position comes amid a deeply constrained civil space in Afghanistan. Reports from human rights organizations indicate that political activists, journalists, and social media users are routinely threatened, detained, or pressured for expressing opinions.
The United Nations and other international human rights bodies have repeatedly warned that Taliban laws and policies severely restrict freedom of expression and assembly, raising the risk of widespread suppression of peaceful protests and civic activities. In practice, peaceful demonstrations and public criticism in recent years have often been met with arrests, intimidation, and violence.
Observers argue that the integration of religious interpretation with judicial authority, coupled with criminalizing protests, creates an environment of fear and monopoly over public discourse. This system reinforces social control, limits independent political activity, and risks escalating social tensions.
Over the past few years, human rights advocates have documented a significant increase in restrictions on assemblies, media, and political engagement, leading to journalists, activists, and critics being detained, tortured, or pressured.
Afghanistan continues to face severe challenges regarding civil liberties, human rights, and civic participation, while both citizens and international bodies call for guarantees that fundamental rights will be respected in accordance with international law.
The Taliban’s new stance makes it clear: public dissent is not just discouraged it is punishable, deepening the climate of fear and signaling a widening gap between the regime and both Afghanistan’s civil society and international human rights norms.
