Spiritual leaders expressed deep concern over the Taliban’s new penal code targeting women and children in Afghanistan. Tapasvi Chavani Mahant Jagatguru Paramhansacharya voiced distress over the brutality faced by mothers and children in the name of religion, urging Muslim leaders to speak out against such injustices. Siddhpeeth Hanumangarhi Mahant Deveshacharya Maharaj criticized the Taliban’s law, emphasizing the sanctity of women in Sanatan Dharma and denouncing any form of violence against them.
The Taliban’s latest penal code permits domestic violence, allowing husbands to physically discipline their wives and children as long as no severe harm is caused. The code, signed by their leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, differentiates punishments based on social status, dividing individuals into ‘free’ or ‘slave’ categories. It also sets unequal consequences for various social classes, with religious scholars facing mere advice for crimes, while the lower class may endure imprisonment and physical penalties.
The new 90-page penal code replaces the 2009 law on Elimination of Violence Against Women, signaling a regressive shift in women’s rights in Afghanistan.
