Taliban govt. defends ban on protest, citing Islamic law
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has officially banned all forms of public protest, claiming such demonstrations are incompatible with Islamic law. International human rights organizations have condemned the move as a systematic effort to suppress dissent and restrict civil liberties.
Why it matters
This policy marks a significant consolidation of authoritarian control in Afghanistan, effectively removing one of the few remaining avenues for public grievance expression.
The Taliban government defended on Wednesday (September 2, 2026) its ban on protests that has drawn condemnation from rights groups, saying the order complies with Islamic law.
Demonstrations in Afghanistan have been rare since the Taliban returned to power just over five years ago, but the government last month introduced a rule holding that "all types of protests are banned".
International organisations have decried the law as "ruthless" and a move to suppress any dissent in the country.
Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, during a news conference, said that the "law fully complies with Islamic law", adding that "protests don't exist in Islamic law".
"Protests belong to societies where there are different laws established, for example a democracy or a republic," Mr. Mujahid said.
Under the Islamic system, he said, people can approach the government with concerns rather than hold demonstrations.
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