Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, said in his latest report that the Taliban have suspended implementation of Afghanistan’s 2004 Constitution and said they would review Republic-era laws for compliance with Sharia.
Bennett said on Monday, September 7, that following their return to power in Afghanistan, the Taliban have gradually dismantled the previous legal and judicial structures that played an important role in protecting human rights.
The report states that, instead of the previous Constitution, the Taliban have established a framework of policies and regulations based on their interpretation of Islam and their ideological objectives.
Bennett said these policies are not limited to government laws but also affect various aspects of people’s lives, including education, employment, freedom of expression, conduct, and personal choices.
The UN Special Rapporteur also said that several key institutions established to protect human rights, including institutions related to women’s rights, have been dissolved since the Taliban took power.
