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
JANUARY 20, 2021AfghanistanDEATH PENALTYAFGHANISTAN: VICE PRESIDENT PUSHES FOR EXECUTION OF TALIBAN PRISONERS
Afghanistan’s First Vice President Amrullah Saleh on 18 January 2021 demanded the execution of Taliban prisoners as violence surges in the country in spite of US-sponsored talks between the government and the militants.
JANUARY 2, 2021AfghanistanDEATH PENALTYAFGHANISTAN: KABUL UNIVERSITY ATTACK MASTERMIND SENTENCED TO DEATH
The Afghan Supreme Court has sentenced Mohammad Adil, the mastermind of the November 2020 Kabul University attack that claimed the lives of 22 people, to death.
JUNE 30, 2020AfghanistanDEATH PENALTYAFGHANISTAN: TALIBAN HANG TWO MEN FOR SHAVING BEARDS IN FARYAB
Taliban fighters have executed two young men for shaving their beards in the insecure province of Faryab in the northwest, officials in the province said.
- MAY 9, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 2 Afghan lawmakers say 45 migrants drowned by Iranian guards (see HoC May 2)
IRAN - 2 Afghan lawmakers say 45 migrants drowned by Iranian guards (see HoC May 2)
- MAY 2, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Likely massacre of migrants by the Iranian border police
IRAN - Likely massacre of migrants by the Iranian border police
- MARCH 14, 2020AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN: 4 MEN CONVICTED OF KIDNAPPING AND MURDER SENTENCED TO DEATH
A Kabul appeals court on 8 March 2020 sentenced four men to death for the kidnapping and killing an eleven-year-old boy.
- JANUARY 20, 2020AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN: OFFICIALS SAY TALIBAN KILL 6 MEMBERS OF SAME FAMILY
Afghan officials said on 19 January 2020 that the Taliban executed six members of the same family, including an infant girl, in a remote village in the country's north.
- JANUARY 1, 2020AfghanistanDEATH 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
NOVEMBER 28, 2019AfghanistanDEATH PENALTYAFGHANISTAN: SOLDIER GIVEN DEATH SENTENCE FOR DELIBERATELY KILLING AN ARMY OFFICER
An Afghan National Army soldier has been awarded death penalty as he was accused of killing a military officer in northern Afghanistan, security officials said on 26 November 2019.
- OCTOBER 10, 2019AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN: TWO TALIBAN FIGHTERS WERE HANGED BY THEIR COMMANDERS IN GHOUR
According to reports from Ghour province, on 10 October 2019 two Taliban fighters were hanged by their commanders.
JUNE 7, 2019AfghanistanDEATH PENALTYAFGHANISTAN: PRESIDENT PLEDGES TO RELEASE NEARLY 900 PRISONERS
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani pledged on 4 June 2019 to release nearly 900 inmates from prisons across Afghanistan.
APRIL 18, 2019AfghanistanDEATH PENALTYAFGHANISTAN: TWO SUSPECTS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING JOURNALIST IN KANDAHAR
The Attorney General’s Office said in a statement on 16 April 2019 that two suspects were sentenced to death for killing a journalist in Kandahar.