Written by: Mohammad Shakir Khademi
One of the important laws in any country is criminal law, which, by being enforced against criminals, ensures and sustains security and stability in the country. As a country where an Islamic system of government is established, Afghanistan naturally applies and enforces Sharia laws in this regard and shows no tolerance toward any criminal.
What has been discussed in the media in recent days regarding Afghanistan’s penal code, and which has caused the mouths of the opposition’s slanderers to speak about it, is in fact based on the Sharia of the Noble Lawgiver and has been compiled and approved accordingly.
One of the important and prominent features of these laws is the absence of the “class society” division in its articles; a principle that is significant and considered one of the key characteristics of Islamic laws.
Because one of the injustices and oppressions prevalent in the criminal laws of Western countries, and even in pre-Islamic times, has been the division of individuals in society before criminal and penal laws based on their social status. This in itself is a great injustice and cruelty toward the underprivileged and defenseless members of society; so much so that they may receive the harshest punishment for the smallest crime, be deprived of the right to life, and remain confined behind prison bars for years.
On the other hand, major criminals who commit the most heinous crimes may receive the lightest and most insignificant punishments, or even be released by paying money to the government, simply because of their social standing or wealth.
Such laws are, in fact, not designed to uphold justice and ensure true fairness, but rather to provide loopholes for “influential and powerful individuals” within the criminal justice systems of so-called civilized countries.
However, such a case does not exist in the criminal laws of the Islamic system. Every crime has its own specific punishment, and in the eyes of the law, the offender is equal to other criminals committing the same crime; it doesn’t matter who they are, who they are connected to, or how they committed the crime. There is still no way to escape the law thru paying money or similar means.
Therefore, the criminal law of the Islamic Emirate system is based on the noble Sharia, derived from the texts of the Quran and Sunnah, and supported by authentic works and narrations; a law that binds the hands of every oppressor and powerful person from before and after, and places everyone on the same level before the law.
Despite these explanations, what the fleeing opponents are saying in this regard, calling it an injustice against the Afghan nation and a setback for the country, is in fact another lie and conspiracy by them; an attempt to once again present themselves to the public, nothing more.
The remarks of Rahmatullah Nabil, the former head of national security, on this matter are far from the truth and the existing reality. What he calls strictness is actually the handle for ensuring equal justice for every individual in society.
Also, using this as a document to encourage people, especially wise individuals, thinkers, and intellectuals, is a futile and useless endeavor; because by looking at their dark past, the weakness and groundlessness of these words is clearly revealed.
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