KABUL (Kashmir English): Taliban supreme leader in Afghanistan, Haibatullah Akhundzada, has issued a new decree extending the period for detaining individuals on suspicion up to 10 days.
According to an international news agency, the decree states that the release of any detained person without any judicial permission has also been banned.
Under the new decree, security agencies will have the authority to detain any suspected individual for a maximum of 10 days.
Previously, this period was set at 72 hours, after which the individual had to be presented in court or released.
The new decree clarifies that no prisoner can be released without a written order from the court, even if the evidence is insufficient during the initial investigation.
This measure has eliminated the powers of the police and prosecutors to release suspects in certain circumstances.
Afghan media
According to Afghan media, in the past, if the police could not gather sufficient evidence in a case, they could release the suspected individual, while prosecutors also had the authority to release detained individuals within 15 days.
This procedure was enforced under Article 88 of the former Afghan government’s penal code, which emphasized preventing unnecessary detention in accordance with the law.
According to information released on the website of the Taliban-controlled Ministry of Justice, the former penal code has now been completely abolished, and new laws and decrees are being implemented in its place.
According to analysts, this new decree could increase concerns regarding legal processes, human rights, and civil liberties in the country.
On the other hand, Taliban officials maintain that these measures are necessary to improve security and prevent crime.
