Afghanistan
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- theocracy
- CONSTITUTION
- new, signed on January 16, 2004 (based on the one from 1964); suspended by the Taliban in 2021
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- the Taliban are applying their interpretation of Islamic law, which is partly based on the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- the Taliban government has not announced the formation of a legislative body
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court and many provincial courts, religious courts and specialized courts
RELIGIONS
Muslim 99.7% (Sunnis 84.7 - 89.7%, Shia 10 - 15%), other <0.3% (2009 est.)
From the country
- MARCH 26, 2006AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN. COURT DROPS TRIAL OF CHRISTIAN AMID DOUBTS OVER HIS MENTAL STATE
an Afghan court dropped its case against Abdul Rahman, a Christian who faced execution for converting from Islam, referring the matter to Kabul's top prosecutor for a final decision, court spokesman Wakil Omari said.
- MARCH 25, 2006AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN. POPE CALLS ON KARZAI TO SPARE AFGHAN CHRISTIAN CONVERT
Pope Benedict XVI asked Afghan President Hamid Karzai to pardon Abdul Rahman, an Afghan man facing execution for converting to Christianity.
- MARCH 24, 2006AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN. CLERICS URGE EXECUTION OF CONVERT
senior Muslim clerics demanded that Abdul Rahman, an Afghan man on trial for converting from Islam to Christianity, be executed, warning that if the government caved in to Western pressure and freed him, they would incite people to "pull him into pieces."
- MARCH 23, 2006CanadaDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN. KARZAI SAYS CONVERT WILL NOT BE EXECUTED – CANADA
Afghan President Hamid Karzai assured Canada that Abdur Rahman, a man facing possible execution for converting to Christianity, would not be put to death, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said.
- MARCH 22, 2006AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN. GOVERNMENT SAYS COURT TO DECIDE FATE OF CONVERT
under mounting international pressure over the case of Abdur Rahman, a man facing the death penalty for converting to Christianity, Afghanistan said that its judiciary alone would decide the case.
- MARCH 21, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN. ITALY CONCERNED FOR AFGHAN CHRISTIAN CONVERT FACING EXECUTION
Italy added its voice to concerns for a man facing death in Afghanistan for converting to Christianity, as Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini summoned the Afghan ambassador over the affair.
- MARCH 19, 2006AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN. MAN RISKS DEATH FOR CONVERTING TO CHRISTIANITY
Afghan police detained a man for converting from Islam to Christianity, Supreme Court judge Ansarullah Mawlavizada said, adding the man could face the death penalty if he refused to become a Muslim again.
- MARCH 1, 2006AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN. TRIAL OF AFGHAN EX-INTELLIGENCE CHIEF FLAWED: RIGHTS GROUP
the death sentence passed in Kabul on former Afghan intelligence chief Asadullah Sarwari followed a trial that violated basic standards of due process, Human Rights Watch said.
- FEBRUARY 25, 2006AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN. COURT SENTENCES FORMER SPY CHIEF TO DEATH
an Afghan court sentenced former spy chief Assadullah Sarwari to death for killing hundreds of people during communist rule, the first such punishment for war crimes after decades of conflict in the country.
- JANUARY 30, 2006AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN. SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY FOR KILLING OF JOURNALISTS
Afghanistan's Supreme Court upheld the death sentence handed to Mohammad Reza for his involvement in the death of four journalists in 2001.
- JANUARY 1, 2006AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
The 2004 Afghan Constitution, in article 23 asserts the right to life...
The 2004 Afghan Constitution, in article 23 asserts the right to life...
- DECEMBER 22, 2005AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN. KIDNAPPERS OF ITALIAN AID WORKER SENTENCED TO DEATH
the leader of an Afghan gang that kidnapped an Italian aid worker in May, was sentenced to death, along with an accomplice, for the earlier kidnapping and killing of an Afghan businessman.