Herat Courts Process Over 7,500 Cases in Three Months Amid Concerns Over Judicial Independence
The Herat provincial judiciary has announced that it handled 4,567 civil and criminal cases and processed 3,226 legal documents during the first three months of the Islamic year 1447. The statistics reflect a high volume of activity within the province’s judicial system.
Despite the seemingly large amount of casework, concerns remain regarding the transparency and independence of these judicial proceedings due to the absence of standard justice practices and the rule of law under Taliban governance. Some legal activists have warned that under current conditions, judicial and legal institutions lack the legitimacy needed to deliver true justice.
Meanwhile, the Taliban-run Government Media and Information Center in Kabul announced that on Monday, November 19 (Islamic calendar), its director met with the head of the state-run IRIB News Agency’s office. The meeting reportedly focused on strengthening cooperation between the media and government institutions, improving access to information, and enhancing coordination.
This development comes amid repeated accusations that the Taliban authorities are suppressing independent media outlets and restricting the free flow of information. Such meetings between pro-Taliban media and government officials have raised questions about the real objectives of these interactions and their implications for media independence in Afghanistan.
