Taliban Spokesperson Asserts Criminal Laws Align with Sharia, Rejects Criticism
Zabiullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban administration, has stated that the existing criminal laws in the country do not conflict with Islamic Sharia and that all regulations have been formulated based on Sharia.
In an interview with the BBC, he said that any criticism of these laws is mistaken and those who object should first study Islamic Sharia and consider the issues within its framework. According to him, in today’s digital world, Sharia-related resources are available in various languages.
Mujahid, responding to whether the Taliban administration accepts the views of Islamic scholars from other countries, emphasized that while some concerns might be addressed, criticism is not acceptable. He added that the Taliban do not need to learn religion externally and consider themselves to have independent beliefs, scholars, and religious heritage.
Meanwhile, the Taliban’s Ministry of Justice also issued a statement saying that none of the legislative documents of the administration contains any article or clause that contradicts Islamic Sharia. The ministry warned that protesting these laws constitutes a crime and that protesters will be referred to judicial and legal authorities.
These positions come amid growing concerns about restricting the right to criticize and criminalizing dissent, raising widespread fears over violations of freedom of expression and the exclusion of scholars, legal experts, and civil society from religious and legal debates in Afghanistan. Critics argue this could lead to monopolizing religious interpretation and increased legal pressures on citizens.
