Domestic Violence Legalised In Afghanistan As Taliban Introduce Harsh New Laws
The Taliban have enacted a shocking new penal code in Afghanistan that effectively legalises domestic violence, marking a severe rollback of women’s rights in the country.
The 90-page legislation permits husbands to physically punish their wives and children, provided the abuse does not cause “broken bones or open wounds.” Under the new rules, cases of more serious abuse, described as “obscene force,” carry a maximum sentence of only 15 days in prison and convictions will only be pursued if the wife can prove the abuse in court.
In addition, married women can face up to three months in jail for visiting relatives without their husband’s explicit consent. The laws treat women as the “property” or “slaves” of their husbands, dismantling protections previously guaranteed under the 2009 Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) law introduced during the US-backed government.
Exiled Afghan human rights group Rawadari, which obtained a copy of the penal code, warned that the new rules will legitimise abuse, mistreatment, and domestic punishment of women and children, exposing them to ongoing violence. The restrictions on women’s ability to visit family members further remove one of the few legal protections available in a country with minimal formal remedies.