Taliban Administration Issues New Divorce Regulations after Leader’s Approval

The Taliban’s Ministry of Justice has announced that the decree concerning the separation of married couples, after being approved by the administration’s leader, has been published in the official gazette and is now enforceable. This decree sets a new legal framework for the separation of husband and wife under various circumstances.

According to the ministry’s statement, the legal document includes a preamble, two chapters, twelve sections, and thirty-one articles that explain different conditions and cases for divorce. The details specify the situations under which a request for separation can be made.

Furthermore, the decree grants the judge the authority to issue a divorce ruling if the specified conditions are met and upon the couple’s request. However, it remains unclear how the enforcement mechanisms of this decree will operate and what guarantees will be in place to protect women’s rights during judicial proceedings.

While the Taliban administration speaks of organizing family affairs based on its interpretation of Sharia law, women’s rights activists have previously raised concerns about widespread restrictions on women’s rights and freedoms within the judicial and social structures. The publication of this decree has also raised questions regarding how fairly it will be implemented in practice.