A chilling new chapter in the suppression of women’s rights has unfolded in Afghanistan, as the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, has officially signed a new criminal code into law. The comprehensive legal document, which replaces the previous penal code, introduces severe restrictions on personal freedom and enshrines a justice system that critics argue legalizes domestic abuse and gender-based discrimination.
Jail for Visiting Relatives
Among the most alarming provisions in the new code—reportedly signed on January 5, 2026—is a law that directly targets women’s autonomy within the family unit. Under the new decree, a woman who visits her relatives without her husband’s explicit permission faces imprisonment. Reports indicate that women found guilty of this “offense” could face a jail term of up to three months, further isolating them from their support networks and reinforcing total male guardianship.
Leniency for Abusers
In a stark contrast to the penalties for women, the code appears to offer leniency to male perpetrators of domestic violence. According to analyses by human rights organizations like Rukhshana Media, a husband who beats his wife with “obscene force”—defined narrowly as causing fractures or visible wounds—may be sentenced to as little as 15 days in prison. Furthermore, the burden of proof lies heavily on the victim, who must provide evidence of the abuse in court to secure even this minimal punishment.
Broad Criminalization of Social Behavior
The 119-article code extends its reach into the private lives of all citizens, criminalizing behaviors deemed “un-Islamic.”
- “Un-Islamic Relationships”: Men who form relationships with women they are not related to or married to—including acts like holding hands or hugging—can face up to one year in prison.
- Neighborhood Surveillance: Looking at female neighbors “inappropriately” or inquiring about their private lives is now a punishable offense, carrying a potential one-month prison sentence.
- Slavery Terminology: Disturbingly, the code reintroduces the legal concept of “slaves” (ghulam/kaniz), erasing decades of legal progress that had prohibited slavery in Afghanistan.
International Outcry
Human rights groups and international observers have condemned the new code as a formalization of gender apartheid. Shahrzad Akbar, head of the human rights organization Rwadari, warned that the laws “entrench the Taliban’s vision of gender inequality” and treat women as the “property of husbands and fathers.”
The UN Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, has expressed deep concern, noting that the new Criminal Procedure Code has terrifying implications for the rule of law and the dignity of the Afghan people.
As these laws take effect, the window for civic resistance narrows, leaving Afghan women to navigate an increasingly perilous landscape where their movement, relationships, and safety are subject to the strictest state control seen in decades.
