New Taliban document emphasizes polygamy and women’s obedience to husbands

Kabul Times News | Kabul

A new document from the Taliban titled “Propagandists’ Code”, which was signed by Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada with an introduction and six chapters and published in the official gazette of the Taliban Ministry of Justice on 15 Asad 1405, has once again emphasized the place of men-oriented rulings in the legal and ideological structure of this group.

In the second chapter of this document, in the section “Rights of Husband and Wife” and in the fourth paragraph, regarding “polygamy”, it is stated that if there are multiple wives, it is obligatory for the husband to observe justice between them.

In the same section, it is emphasized on issues such as the wife’s obedience to the husband, the man’s sovereignty over the wife, respecting the husband’s rights and trying to keep him happy.

The content of this document is being published at a time when the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s rights and freedoms in Afghanistan continue to face widespread domestic and international reactions.

Critics of Taliban policies say that emphasizing women’s obedience to their husbands and men’s dominance within the framework of an official document can further highlight the unequal status of women and men in the group’s legal and educational approach.

On the other hand, the inclusion of the issue of polygamy in this document shows that rulings related to the family and husband-wife relations have also been emphasized within the framework of official education.

The “Propagandist Quota” was published in the official gazette of the Taliban Ministry of Justice at a time when the group has imposed a series of restrictions on women’s education, employment, movement, and social presence in recent years.

Kabul Times News will also follow up with Taliban officials and legal experts to clarify more details about the legal basis of these rulings and how they will be implemented.