The Taliban has legalized domestic violence against women, passing a new law that says Afghan men can beat their wives so long as they break no skin or bones. In the event that a woman wishes to report that her husband has broken skin or left wounds, she would have to go in person to the authorities to show her wounds, while somehow remaining fully covered, and while accompanied by a male guardian, likely the very husband who beat her.
If a woman seeks to escape to her parents' home, for example, she would be in violation of the laws preventing her from leaving her home without a male guardian. Anyone who shelters her would also be prosecuted and sentenced to a prison term, as would she. Even if the man were to be convicted of beating his wife he would only serve 15 days in prison. She would serve three months for trying to save herself.
Men are also permitted to beat their children. The law was signed by Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, The Telegraph reports, and sent on to courts. For a man to beat his wife or children is now classified as discretionary punishment, or "ta’zir," and not a crime. Physical, psychological or sexual violence against women as well as children is not prohibited.
The law, per The Telegraph, reads:
Article 32: "If a husband strikes his wife (the complainant) with severe force (resulting in broken bone, wound, or visible bruising on the body), and the complainant proves her case before the judge, the husband is guilty - the judge shall sentence him to fifteen days of imprisonment."
Article 34: "If the wife (the complainant) - without the husband's permission and without a lawful Sharia-based reason - repeatedly goes to her father's or other relatives' home and stays there, and despite the husband’s objection and the judge's ruling, the wife's father (the complainant's father) or close relatives continue to take her, preventing her from returning to her own home - both the wife's father and those who obstruct are criminals - the judge shall sentence each of them to three months of imprisonment."
Dancing has also been made illegal along with criticism of the government or the legal system. The Taliban had already decreed that women cannot be educated. Women were already prevented from leaving their homes without male guardians, showing their faces in public, or even speaking loudly or being seen through the windows of their own homes.
Fair trials have been replaced with the strict authority of Taliban judges and citizens are required to report any instance they witness of others criticizing the government. Punishments for these things, as well as apostacy, are different depending on the social class of the perpetrator. Elites get sweetheart deals while those in the middle class receive harsher punishment and those in the working class can be beaten.
If a woman seeks to escape to her parents' home, for example, she would be in violation of the laws preventing her from leaving her home without a male guardian. Anyone who shelters her would also be prosecuted and sentenced to a prison term, as would she. Even if the man were to be convicted of beating his wife he would only serve 15 days in prison. She would serve three months for trying to save herself.
Men are also permitted to beat their children. The law was signed by Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, The Telegraph reports, and sent on to courts. For a man to beat his wife or children is now classified as discretionary punishment, or "ta’zir," and not a crime. Physical, psychological or sexual violence against women as well as children is not prohibited.
The law, per The Telegraph, reads:
Article 32: "If a husband strikes his wife (the complainant) with severe force (resulting in broken bone, wound, or visible bruising on the body), and the complainant proves her case before the judge, the husband is guilty - the judge shall sentence him to fifteen days of imprisonment."
Article 34: "If the wife (the complainant) - without the husband's permission and without a lawful Sharia-based reason - repeatedly goes to her father's or other relatives' home and stays there, and despite the husband’s objection and the judge's ruling, the wife's father (the complainant's father) or close relatives continue to take her, preventing her from returning to her own home - both the wife's father and those who obstruct are criminals - the judge shall sentence each of them to three months of imprisonment."
Dancing has also been made illegal along with criticism of the government or the legal system. The Taliban had already decreed that women cannot be educated. Women were already prevented from leaving their homes without male guardians, showing their faces in public, or even speaking loudly or being seen through the windows of their own homes.
Fair trials have been replaced with the strict authority of Taliban judges and citizens are required to report any instance they witness of others criticizing the government. Punishments for these things, as well as apostacy, are different depending on the social class of the perpetrator. Elites get sweetheart deals while those in the middle class receive harsher punishment and those in the working class can be beaten.
