Legal Overhaul Based On Islamic Principles Almost Done, Says Taliban

The Taliban’s Minister of Justice, Abdul Hakim Sharei, announced on Tuesday that 95 percent of the group’s law-drafting process has been completed, with legislation based on Islamic principles and Hanafi jurisprudence.

Speaking during a meeting with Norway’s chargé d’affaires for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Sharei said the new laws are being developed by religious scholars and legal experts and will be finalised following review and approval by Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada.

“The subsidiary laws are derived from the Holy Quran, the traditions of the Prophet (Sunnah), and credible sources of Hanafi jurisprudence,” Sharei stated.

According to the Ministry of Justice, the Norwegian chargé d’affaires emphasised that Norway continues to prioritise its relationship with the Taliban and is working to maintain and strengthen diplomatic engagement.

Sharei also said that both the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court had submitted proposals to amend some existing laws, but the Taliban leader rejected the suggestions as unacceptable.

The Taliban have previously declared that their legal framework will be free from “the influence of Western culture.” Since taking power in August 2021, the group has initiated a comprehensive review of Afghanistan’s legal code and announced that any laws conflicting with their interpretation of Islamic principles will be annulled.