Afghanistan – Taliban’s New Directive Further Restricts Women’s Right to Divorce
Author: Administrator
Date: May 22, 2026
Heather Barr: Taliban’s New Directive Further Restricts Women’s Right to Divorce – Hasht-e Subh
Afghanistan – Taliban’s New Directive Further Restricts Women’s Right to Divorce
Heather Barr, associate director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, has described the Taliban’s new regulation on marital separation as deeply concerning.
Writing on X on Friday, May 15, Barr said that under the directive, women cannot easily request separation even in cases such as a husband’s disappearance, abandonment of the family, or domestic violence.
“If your husband abandons you, you can’t divorce him. If your husband disappears, you can’t divorce him. If your husband beats you, you can’t divorce him,” Barr wrote.
The publication of the Taliban’s regulation on marital separation has sparked widespread reactions from human rights activists, social media users, and several analysts.
Critics say the regulation further restricts women’s rights to seek separation and make decisions about their own lives.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Justice announced on Thursday, May 15, that the directive came into force after being approved by Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban’s leader.
The new document consists of 31 articles and outlines various conditions and reasons for marital separation.
According to the directive, in many cases a woman’s right to separation depends on the decision of a Taliban judge, the husband’s consent, a confession, witnesses, or sworn testimony.
Critics argue that these restrictions make women’s access to justice even more difficult.
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