Taliban Law Transfers Ownerless Estates to State Treasury

DID Press: Taliban administration has published details of a new law governing the management of movable and immovable assets belonging to missing, absent, or deceased individuals, including provisions that transfer ownerless estates to the state treasury.

According to the Taliban’s Ministry of Justice of Afghanistan, the legislation aims to regulate the status of assets belonging to individuals who are missing or unavailable, while preventing unlawful seizure, loss, or misuse of their property.

The ministry said the law consists of a preamble, four chapters, four sections, and 31 articles. Implementation authority has been assigned to a specialized body operating under the military deputy office of the Taliban-controlled Supreme Court.

Under the law, properties whose owners are missing or absent and that lack a designated custodian—or are at risk of illegal occupation or confiscation—will be placed under government protection. The legislation also outlines procedures for registering, managing, leasing, and, in certain cases, selling movable assets.

Article 9 stipulates that if an owner, legal heir, or authorized representative comes forward to claim the property, the responsible authority must return the assets following a court order. Any income generated from the management of such property must likewise be transferred to the rightful owners or their legal representatives in accordance with legal procedures.

The law also addresses the status of estates belonging to deceased individuals who have no recognized heirs or legal beneficiaries. In such cases, the assets will be transferred to the government treasury after the completion of the required legal process.

The Ministry of Justice further stated that properties and homes seized before or after the Taliban’s return to power are to be restored to their original owners or their lawful representatives upon judicial authorization.