Mujahid: “Demonstrations Do Not Exist in Islamic Law”

Source: Kokcha News / X

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s spokesperson, says “demonstrations do not exist in Islamic law” and that street protests belong to democratic and republican systems.

Speaking at a press conference in Kabul on Wednesday (2 September), Mujahid said in response to a question about the ban on demonstrations that street protests have a place in democratic and republican systems, not in a system the Taliban describes as Islamic.

He said: “Demonstrations do not exist in Islamic law, because demonstrations are for societies where different laws are in place, or where there is democracy or republican systems.”

The Taliban spokesperson added that if citizens have complaints, they should approach the relevant institutions and, according to him, “wasting people’s time, loss of people’s property and disorder” should be prevented.

Mujahid also defended the new “Police Law”, saying it was drafted for “security, stability and the prevention of crimes” in Afghanistan.

The Taliban recently published the “Police Law”, under which all demonstrations across Afghanistan are banned.

The ban comes as public protests in Herat and Badakhshan have faced suppression by Taliban forces in recent months.

The ban on demonstrations is a new restriction on freedom of assembly and peaceful protest in Afghanistan, a right that, particularly for women who have been excluded from many areas of public life and decision-making under Taliban rule, is one of the ways to publicly express opposition and demand their rights.