Taliban sentences man to one year in prison for insulting leader in Badghis

Local sources in Badghis province told Amu TV that Taliban authorities sentenced a man identified as Abdul Khak, a resident of Jahandosti village in Balamorghab district, to one year in prison for "insulting" their leader. The sources added that the Taliban also administered 39 lashes to him in the presence of local officials.

The Taliban Appellate Court in Badghis confirmed the matter in a statement shared on a WhatsApp group to media outlets. The statement said the sentencing was based on Article 18 of their recently approved penal code, ratified by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.

Amu TV's prior examination of the penal code found that it prescribes 20 lashes and six months in prison for insulting Taliban officials, and 39 lashes plus five years in prison for sheltering opponents. The punishment in this case contradicts those provisions.

The examination also indicated that the penal code seeks to suppress dissenting voices and critics while reinforcing patriarchal structures. It imposes two years in prison for those following the Hanafi sect who abandon it. For women who apostatize, Article 58 prescribes life imprisonment with 10 lashes every three days.

Legal experts warn that the code imposes harsher punishments on women than men and strengthens male dominance in society. Under Article 32, a husband who beats his wife to the point of causing wounds, bruises, or fractures faces only 15 days in prison.

Rights activists warn that the Taliban aim to seriously suppress justice and human rights for Afghan citizens. The penal code consists of one preface, three books, ten chapters, and 119 articles. The Taliban said it will soon be published in their official gazette. Amu TV obtained a copy of the document, with activists stating it creates a class-based society and bolsters the suppression of justice.