Taliban's Ministry of Justice Publishes Law On Land Distribution To Returning Refugees
The Taliban's Ministry of Justice announced the signing of three new laws by Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the group.
The laws include distributing land to returning refugees, renting government land, and arranging privileges and facilities for returning industrialists and businessmen, the Taliban said.
The Taliban's Ministry of Justice wrote in a statement on Thursday (December 19) that the laws have been "enforced and registered in the official gazette" after being signed by the group's leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.
The Taliban has published a law on the distribution of land to returning refugees under the title of "Procedure of the Land Distribution Board for Returning Refugees”.
The law states that according to the decree of Hibatullah Akhundzada, "houses and land" will be distributed to the returning refugees at the central and provincial levels.
According to the text of the law on the distribution of land to the returned refugees, the Taliban intends to establish specific settlements for the refugees in areas with livelihood facilities in the centre and provinces.
Earlier, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) announced that more than 1.2 million Afghan refugees returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Iran in 2024.
These migrants, some of whom have lived in these host countries for decades, face housing and livelihood problems in Afghanistan.
However, some Taliban opponents have previously criticised the movement of migrants in northern Afghanistan.
In one instance, the National Council of Resistance for the Salvation of Afghanistan said in November last year that the Taliban intended to change the social fabric of the region by relocating refugees deported from Pakistan to northern Afghanistan.
The council stressed that the Taliban is endangering the coexistence and security of the region with their "divisive plans" and "politicisation" of the settlement of refugees.
Public Land Lease Law
The Taliban's Ministry of Justice has also announced the implementation and publication of the law on renting government lands.
The law aims to lease state land to individuals, businessmen and investors and make effective use of them, the group said.
The statement said that the Taliban's Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock will be the authority to implement this law.
The law will also address issues such as disputes over leased land, violations, cases of termination of lease and obtaining guarantees from tenants, the Taliban said.
On Thursday, the Taliban's Ministry of Justice also announced the implementation and publication of a third law, entitled "Procedure for Regulating Privileges and Facilities for Returning Industrialists and Traders”.
According to the text of the law, this document will provide privileges and facilities for Afghan refugees who want to return to Afghanistan and carry out business activities in the country.
