THE system imposed by the Taliban in Afghanistan is often presented as Sharia-based governance, yet in reality it reflects a rigid, centralized and coercive order that diverges sharply from the core principles of Islam.

Rather than embodying justice, consultation and welfare, the current structure revolves around absolute authority concentrated in the hands of a single leadership circle, with religion used as a tool to legitimize control and suppress dissent.

A fundamental flaw in the Taliban system lies in its lack of legitimacy. Governance in Islam rests on consultation (shura), consent and accountability. The Taliban, however, assumed power through force, not through public will. There were no elections, no inclusive consultation and no national consensus. Authority was imposed in an environment shaped by fear and coercion, which stands in clear contradiction to the Islamic concept of voluntary allegiance. Public silence in such conditions reflects survival instincts,........

© Pakistan Observer