CONTROL AND COMPLIANCE: INSTITUTIONAL ROLE OF MPVPV IN AFGHAN ISLAMIC EMIRATE

On July 31, 2024, the Law The new law specifies the expected conduct for Muhtasibs-inspectors or enforcers of MPVPV decrees and for the Afghan public, detailing normative behaviours to be followed.

- SHARANPREET KAUR

On July 31, 2024, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) released a 114-page document in its official gazette, containing 35 articles. This document represents the first attempt to codify the directives of the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue, Prevention of Vice, and the Hearing of Complaints (MPVPV), outlining the responsibilities of its members. Although the directives have been in effect for the past three years, the formal codification received approval from Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. Despite global conflicts and a waning international interest following the end of a 20-year Western presence, the Taliban’s transition from an insurgent group to a formal state apparatus and the institutionalisation of its policies remain critical developments.

Regulated and Restrained: Implications of the New Law

The new law specifies the expected conduct for Muhtasibs—inspectors or enforcers of MPVPV decrees and for the Afghan public, detailing normative behaviours to be followed. The preface of the law clarifies its purpose: to formalise MPVPV operations and define the responsibilities of those enforcing the decrees. The law is divided into four chapters: the first outlines the conditions and principles for enforcers’ actions against the public; the second describes their duties in various aspects of life; the third specifies punishments for violations; and the final chapter addresses miscellaneous issues, focusing on accountability and feedback mechanisms for enforcers.