Elon Musk, the American billionaire and owner of X, has criticized the global community’s silence after the Taliban formally referenced slavery in their newly released judicial code.
Musk reshared a post by an X user who accused the Taliban of reviving an old system of slavery in Afghanistan. The user claimed that practices in which children were taken as sexual slaves or domestic servants have now been officially restored under Taliban rule.
“Where are the feminists now?” the user wrote. “Where are the protests? Where are the marches? Where are the speeches? … Silence.”
Musk responded briefly to the post, writing: “Good question.”
Taliban Judicial Code Sparks Alarm
The controversy follows the publication of the Taliban’s new penal code for courts, which explicitly uses the term “slave” in multiple sections. According to the document, slavery is referenced as a legally recognized status under Taliban governance.
Articles 15 and 4 of the judicial code reportedly address slavery and outline related rights and legal distinctions. The wording has raised serious concern among human rights advocates and observers.
International Law Prohibits Slavery
Slavery is absolutely prohibited under international law in all its forms. Global conventions classify it as a grave human rights violation, regardless of cultural, religious, or political justification.
Critics argue that the Taliban’s judicial framework institutionalizes discrimination, strips individuals of human dignity, and reverses decades of international progress on human rights.
Silence Under Scrutiny
Musk’s comment, though brief, has amplified debate over the lack of global reaction to the Taliban’s policies. Observers note that while Afghanistan remains under intense humanitarian focus, concrete international pressure over legal and systemic abuses has been limited.
The Taliban have not responded publicly to Musk’s remarks or to the growing criticism surrounding the judicial code.
Read more :Taliban Enforce New Criminal Code Signed by Hibatullah, Deepening Repression Across Afghanistan
