According to Iraf, Abdul Hakim Haqqani, head of the Taliban Supreme Court, during his visit to northern provinces of Afghanistan, issued a set of serious recommendations and warnings addressed to the judicial officials of the group.
Haqqani, in statements published by media close to the Taliban, emphasized that no judge has the right to issue a verdict without complete investigation, careful review of documents, and confirmation of the accuracy of claims.
He compared the responsibility of judging to “crossing the Sirat bridge” and said that any negligence in performing duties will affect the individual on the Day of Judgment.
The head of the Taliban Supreme Court also urged judges to behave respectfully towards visitors and to explain to the parties in a case the process of proceedings, the right to plead, and the possibility of appeal.
According to him, “A judge must be able to convince the parties and clarify the process of proceedings for them.”
In another part of his speech, Haqqani warned that judicial officials must avoid attending meetings, parties, and places that could create grounds for accusation and suspicion.
He emphasized that the personal behavior of officials should not damage the credibility of the Taliban judiciary.
These recommendations come while in recent months, reports have been published regarding lack of transparency in Taliban courts, ethnic-religious bias, and influence of individuals in the case adjudication process.
Despite these criticisms, the Taliban still claim that their judicial system operates “fairly and according to Islam.”
