“No Bruises, No Crime”: New Taliban Rule Gives Husbands Right to Beat Wives and Children

 “No Bruises, No Crime”: New Taliban Rule Gives Husbands Right to Beat Wives and Children.

Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban leadership has put into effect a new legal code that gives husbands the right to physically discipline their wives and children through beating, as long as the punishment does not leave clear marks.

The law, which was signed by the group’s supreme leader and took effect right away, lays out what is allowed when it comes to keeping order in the home. Under the new rules, a man can use physical force (beating), but he is not supposed to cause injuries like broken bones, deep cuts, or bruises that are easy to see.

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If a woman does end up with such injuries and wants to take action, she has to prove in court that the abuse happened. Even if she succeeds, the husband would only face a maximum of 15 days behind bars. Critics say this makes it nearly impossible for women to get justice, especially since they have to appear before judges in full cover and follow strict courtroom rules that work against them.

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The new code also makes it a crime for a woman to leave her husband’s home without asking for his permission first. If she runs away to her family and refuses to come back after a court tells her to, both she and any relatives who helped her could end up in prison for up to three months.

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The document, which is said to contain more than 90 articles, has been described by observers as a way to write gender inequality into law. By setting the bar very high for what counts as a crime inside the home, it gives cover to those who commit violence while making it hard for victims to speak up.

Separately, the Taliban’s morality police are also cracking down on men’s appearance. Barbers in different provinces have been arrested and their shops shut down for giving haircuts that leave beards too short. Men are now expected to keep their beards longer than a fist, following the Taliban’s understanding of religious rules.

 “No Bruises, No Crime”: New Taliban Rule Gives Husbands Right to Beat Wives and Children.