Vice and Virtue Minister: Muhtasibs Obliged to Enforce Islamic Sharia

The Minister of Vice and Virtue of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, stated at an event in Kabul that the ministry’s officers, known as muhtasibs, are obligated to call on people to observe religious practices and enforce Islamic Sharia.

Hanafi emphasized that everyone should align their behavior and appearance according to Islamic Sharia, and muhtasibs must act firmly in this regard. He addressed criticisms over issues like beard enforcement, saying: “It is obligatory for a muhtasib to implement Islamic Sharia. Some people tell me to let go of the beard issue, if that’s the case, what should we say to foreigners? They claim we are violating personal privacy. How is this a violation of privacy? You are religious scholars, you judge: is this really a matter of personal privacy?”

The minister criticized opponents of the ministry, describing their criticisms as baseless and stating they will not be considered. Hanafi reiterated that the Islamic Emirate had two major goals: ending the occupation of Afghanistan and fully implementing Islamic Sharia. He added: “Our policy was clear and transparent to everyone. We had two objectives: the expulsion of invaders and the enforcement and implementation of Islamic Sharia across the country.”

The day prior, Abdul Hakim Sharei, the Minister of Justice of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, stated at an event at Kabul University that the goal of Afghan sacrifices over the past two decades was to establish a Sharia-based Islamic system.