KABUL, Afghanistan (Diya TV) — The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has enacted a new penal code that includes provisions regarding domestic violence and other personal conduct, according to reporting by CNN and human rights groups.
The code was approved by Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada in early January 2026 and communicated to courts and local officials for implementation. The full text of the legislation has not been publicly released by the Taliban, but translations obtained by Afghan rights organizations show a structure of rules and penalties that differ significantly from internationally recognized human rights standards.
Under the provisions identified in the document, husbands are permitted to administer physical discipline to their wives and other family members, provided the force does not result in broken bones, open wounds, or significant visible injury. If an injury that meets that threshold occurs and is proven to a judge’s satisfaction, the husband may face a short period of imprisonment, often reported as roughly two weeks. In contrast, penalties for animal cruelty and other offenses can be longer in duration.
The penal code also includes provisions that criminalize certain actions by women, such as visiting relatives without the consent of a male guardian, punishable by several months in detention. Critics have noted that these measures may limit legal recourse for victims of domestic abuse, especially given existing restrictions on women’s movement and access to justice.
Human rights organizations and foreign officials have raised concerns that the new penal code formalizes practices that could lead to greater vulnerability for women and children in private settings. A United Nations human rights official has described similar decrees as legitimizing corporal punishment within the home and inconsistent with Afghanistan’s international obligations on equal protection and non-discrimination.
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, a range of policies affecting women’s rights have been implemented, including restrictions on education, employment, and public participation for women. The introduction of this penal code is part of broader changes to the legal framework that govern civil and family life in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
