Residents of the Omid-e Sabz township in Kabul say the Taliban's Ministry of Justice is forcing them to pay rent on homes they built themselves. The decision has sparked widespread anger and concern among the inhabitants of the community.
According to residents, a delegation from the Taliban's Ministry of Justice visited the township and announced that a monthly rent of 4,000 Afghanis has been set for each room in a house. This means a family living in a four-room house would have to pay 16,000 Afghanis per month to the Taliban government. Residents state they have worked their entire lives to build these homes and possess legal ownership documents.
The Taliban have warned residents that the rent must be paid retroactively from the month of Saur of the current year (April/May 2026). This requires each family to pay the past six months' rent in a lump sum into the Ministry of Justice's bank account. They have been told to vacate their properties if they fail to comply.
This move follows a ruling in Saur 1405 (April/May 2026) by a special Taliban court on usurped lands, which declared 1,507 jeribs of the township's land as state property. The Taliban's Ministry of Justice deemed the decision "Sharia-compliant" and told homeowners to seek compensation from the original land sellers.
One resident, speaking anonymously to the 8Sobh newspaper, called the move "oppression and bullying." "Is this decision based on Islamic principles and justice?" he asked. Residents insist they purchased their land with official deeds through legal transactions and that their documents have no legal issues.
Previously, in Asad 1405 (July/August 2026), Taliban Minister of Justice Abdul Hakim Sharie had summoned local representatives and mosque imams, ordering them to evacuate their homes by August 6. He also banned all private sales and rentals. Many residents view this approach as selective and discriminatory against Hazaras and Shias.
Sources suggest the Taliban may be trying to seize homes whose owners are living aoad. This has heightened fears of forced displacement and the potential handover of these properties to individuals affiliated with the Taliban. Residents have held gatherings to appeal to senior Taliban leaders to halt the Ministry of Justice's actions.
Source: 8Sobh Newspaper
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