Local sources in Balkh province report rampant corruption and bribery within Taliban-controlled institutions, particularly in the appellate courts of Mazar-i-Sharif. Citizens allege that organized bribery rings operate with official backing, effectively putting justice up for sale.
Witnesses describe a system where “the Dollar has trampled Sharia,” meaning that legal outcomes favor those who pay the most, regardless of the truth. Residents face harassment and delays unless they comply with demands for bribes to process their cases.
Despite Taliban claims of eradicating corruption, these reports suggest that graft has become systemic in local administration. The situation leaves ordinary Afghans helpless, unable to find justice or complete basic bureaucratic tasks without paying illicit fees.
Reports of widespread corruption in Balkh: “Dollar tramples Sharia”
