The Taliban have officially published a new regulation governing marital separation after approval by the group’s leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, according to an announcement from the Taliban Justice Ministry on Thursday.
The regulation, titled “Principles of Spousal Separation,” consists of an introduction, 12 chapters, and 31 articles outlining conditions under which marriages can be dissolved under the Taliban judicial system.
Taliban officials said the document gives Taliban judges authority to issue divorce rulings when required legal and religious conditions are met.
One of the most controversial sections appears in the second chapter, where the regulation recognizes child marriage and explains conditions under which child marriages may be annulled.
The provision is expected to trigger renewed criticism from women’s rights groups and international organizations already concerned about Taliban policies toward women and girls.
Under Article 4, women are allowed to request divorce if a husband disappears and his family has no information about his whereabouts.
Article 5 states that if a husband lives away from his family for an extended period and fails to provide financial support, the wife can also seek separation.
The regulation further states that if either spouse leaves Islam, the marriage is automatically dissolved without requiring a court ruling from a Taliban judge.
Other sections address additional religious and legal conditions that could lead to marital separation under Taliban law.
The regulation comes as the Taliban continue expanding a series of legal, social, and educational decrees introduced since returning to power in August 2021.
Critics argue many of the group’s policies have further restricted women’s freedoms and institutionalized a stricter interpretation of Islamic law within Afghanistan’s legal system.
The Taliban maintain that all regulations are based on Islamic Sharia principles.
