Taliban Promulgate New Police Law; All Demonstrations in Afghanistan Prohibited

The Taliban have banned the holding of any kind of demonstration in Afghanistan under the police law of their group.

In a statement, the ministry said the law was published in the 1,496th issue of the Official Gazette following its ratification.

The law consists of a preamble, two chapters, five sections and 53 articles, with the Ministry of Interior (MoI) designated as the authority responsible for its implementation.

According to the ministry, the law outlines police duties in areas including maintaining security, border security, traffic, prisoners, archaeological sites and forests, juvenile discipline, fire prevention, combating narcotics, and preventing kidnapping and human trafficking, among other matters.

The ministry added that the law also sets out police powers and procedures concerning identity verification, summoning and bringing individuals before authorities, arresting offenders, monitoring suspects and conducting searches.

It further specifies the circumstances in which police may use certain equipment and take other measures.

Article 50 of the law states: “Any kind of demonstration in the territory of Afghanistan is prohibited.”

The law provides no further explanation regarding the scope of this prohibition or how it is to be enforced.

Over the past five years, the Taliban have repeatedly suppressed protests in Afghanistan and arrested a number of protesters.