UK Envoy Calls for Repeal of Taliban’s Decree No. 12

DID Press: United Kingdom’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Richard Lindsay, has called for the repeal of the Taliban’s Decree No. 12, warning that concerns about its legal and human rights implications are serious and require urgent attention.

Lindsay reiterated the position of UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett, stressing that the protection of human rights must be guaranteed for all citizens of Afghanistan. He added that the concerns raised by United Nations experts regarding the decree are significant and warrant careful consideration.

UN human rights experts have warned that Decree No. 12 issued by the Taliban leadership conflicts with Afghanistan’s international obligations related to human rights, judicial independence, and the right to a fair trial.

The decree, formally titled the “Criminal Procedures Code of the Courts,” was signed by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada in early January and came into force a few days later.

According to international organizations, provisions within the decree could have far-reaching consequences for judicial processes and the fundamental rights of citizens in Afghanistan.