The recent Criminal Procedure Regulation approved by the Taliban leader has raised serious concerns about human rights in Afghanistan. A new legal analysis warns that the rules may increase discrimination, especially against women and girls. The regulation says domestic violence is only a crime if a woman has broken bones or visible injuries, which may leave many victims without protection. It also states that a woman who regularly visits her family without her husband’s permission could face three months in prison if she refuses a court order to return home. The law also includes strict religious rules and heavy punishments for people who do not follow the Hanafi School of Sunni Islam as interpreted by the Taliban. It also allows corporal punishment, such as flogging, and it increases the use of the death penalty. The regulation may also weaken fair trial standards and allow harsh treatment of people. Human rights groups warn that these rules could increase discrimination and limit basic freedoms in the country.

Pray for the Taliban authorities to annul the recently approved ‘Criminal Procedure Regulations’. Pray for the authorities to uphold the rights and freedoms of the civilians in Afghanistan (The Holy Bible, Proverbs 20:28).

Pray against rights violations and religious oppression in Afghanistan. Pray for divine protection for all vulnerable people, especially women and girls, in the country (The Holy Bible, Psalm 62:8).

News Source: Amnesty International

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