Afghanistan's Taliban Codifies Domestic Violence, Legally Reduces Women to Subordinates.

Afghanistan's New Criminal Code

According to TSN.ua: A new 90-page Criminal Code has been enacted in Afghanistan, formally legalizing domestic violence and reinforcing a rigid caste system. Signed by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, the document legally classifies women as subordinates and imposes severe punishments and restrictions upon them. This move represents a formalization of the Taliban's harsh social policies since their return to power in August 2021.

Under the new rules, the maximum jail term for a man who inflicts 'excessive' beatings on a woman is just 15 days. Conversely, a woman fleeing abuse to her parents' home without her husband's permission faces up to three months in prison. The Taliban regained control of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, and the rights of women and girls have been systematically dismantled ever since.

Restrictions Imposed on Women

The Taliban's code enforces a comprehensive list of prohibitions for women, including:

• revealing their faces in public;
• attending school beyond the sixth grade;
• pursuing higher education;
• holding employment;
• engaging in political activity;
• visiting shops and markets;
• traveling without a male guardian (mahram).

These codified restrictions are expected to exacerbate already dire trends in child and maternal mortality, domestic violence, and the disenfranchisement of women. The code also forbids women from looking at men who are not close relatives, and taxi drivers face punishment for transporting an unaccompanied woman.

"The implementation of this new Criminal Code signifies the Taliban's deepening control over Afghan society, particularly over women, as a core element of their political strategy."

Thus, the new Criminal Code marks a critical step in solidifying a repressive system of control over women, drawing condemnation from the international community and human rights advocates. International bodies and rights organizations warn that escalating violence and discrimination could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe, with this code having severe long-term consequences for human rights in Afghanistan that demand a global response.