Rwadari Reveals Official Codification of Discrimination in Taliban Penal Code

Human rights organization Rwadari has announced that the penal code under Taliban-administered courts officially and legally incorporates discrimination against religious minorities and restricts fundamental freedoms. On Wednesday, 21 January, Rwadari issued a statement revealing that the penal code was sent to judicial bodies and provinces for implementation following approval by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. According to Rwadari, the document is organized into three sections, ten chapters, and 119 articles, establishing frameworks that include violations of human dignity, restrictions on freedom of expression and thought, as well as arbitrary detention and punishment. Rwadari described the contents of this penal code as deeply concerning, highlighting that these regulations clearly conflict with international human rights standards and the core principles of fair trial, thereby heightening worries about the functioning of the judicial system under Taliban rule.