Archive image/ Protesters against the Taliban in Kabul.

The Taliban`s Justice Ministry has published a new police law approved by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada that bans all demonstrations in Afghanistan and grants their police broad powers, including the use of weapons and other forms of force.

The law, published in the Taliban`s official gazette under the title "Shurta Law," formally refers to police forces as "shurta," an Arabic term for police.

The legislation consists of 53 articles across five chapters and two main sections. The Taliban`s Interior Ministry is responsible for enforcing it.

Under the law, "all demonstrations within the territory of Afghanistan" are prohibited.

The law also authorizes police to use weapons and other equipment in carrying out their duties and what it describes as maintaining security and public order. The measures include electric batons, water cannons and devices that spray dye. It also includes provisions involving threats of lethal force.

The legislation extends the period authorities may hold a suspect in custody from three days to 10 days.

Among other provisions, the law says maintaining security and public order is a principal responsibility of the police and requires officers to pursue and arrest kidnappers.

It also authorizes police to cooperate with the Taliban`s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in preventing images from being displayed at intersections and along roads.

Another provision prohibits filming or photographing the implementation of punishments.

The new law formalizes restrictions on demonstrations that Taliban authorities have imposed in practice since returning to power in August 2021.

Protests, many of them led by women opposing Taliban restrictions on their rights, were held in Kabul and other provinces during the first years after the takeover. Taliban forces dispersed some demonstrations, and protesters and rights groups have reported arrests, intimidation and the use of force.

Taliban have also faced criticism over their handling of demonstrations in other parts of the country, including recent protests in the western province of Herat.

The Taliban have issued a series of laws and decrees since returning to power, including measures governing public conduct and imposing sweeping restrictions on women and girls. The Taliban government remains largely internationally unrecognized.