Taliban enacts new criminal law in Afghanistan, legalizing slavery and creating social castes

mathrubhumi.com (Malayalam)

Afghanistan's Taliban government has enacted a new criminal law legalizing slavery and dividing citizens into four legal categories. The law, approved by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada on January 4, 2026, bases punishments on social status rather than crime severity, distinguishing between "free" individuals and "slaves." This regressive legislation, which also permits physical punishment for women and children, has drawn widespread international condemnation and concerns about increased human rights abuses.


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