Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 12:49pm on 27 Jan 2026,Tuesday International
Afghanistan's Taliban issued a new Criminal Procedure Code dividing society into four rigid classes with unequal punishments. Religious scholars (mullahs) receive only "advice" for crimes, while lower classes face imprisonment and corporal punishment for identical offenses. The code explicitly legitimizes slavery using the term "ghulam," allowing masters and husbands to enforce punishments. Critics compare it to India's historical varna system, calling it "far worse than the Middle Ages." Former Afghan officials and human rights groups condemned the January 4 document as institutionalizing violence, gender apartheid, and discrimination. The UN Special Rapporteur called provisions "deeply troubling," while activists demand immediate repeal and international intervention against formalized inequality. (PC: India Today)
