Global condemnation is rising after reports emerged that Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government has introduced a new penal code widely criticised for undermining protections for women and children
The 90-page law reportedly permits husbands to physically discipline their wives and children, provided the punishment does not leave severe visible injuries.
Cases involving “obscene force,” such as clear fractures or serious harm, carry a maximum prison sentence of just 15 days. Legal action, according to reports, can only proceed if the wife presents proof of abuse in court.
The new rules also allegedly allow authorities to detain married women for up to three months if they visit relatives without their husband’s consent.
Human rights advocates warn that the law treats women as property and erodes protections previously established under the 2009 Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) legislation.
Exiled Afghan rights group Rawadari, which claims to have obtained a copy of the penal code, cautioned that the law could legitimise abuse and leave women and children increasingly vulnerable to violence.
The group urged the international community, including the United Nations, to intervene immediately to prevent the law from being enforced.
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No chill