Afghanistan ranked second-worst globally in Rule of Law Index
Kabul: Afghanistan has been ranked second from the bottom in the World Justice Project’s 2026 Rule of Law Index, placed 142nd among 143 countries and jurisdictions. Only Venezuela ranked lower, at 143rd, while Haiti stood at 141st.
Denmark, Norway, and Finland occupied the top three positions in the global index, according to Afghanistan-based news agency Khaama Press.
The Rule of Law Index assesses law enforcement and legal systems across eight areas: absence of corruption, constraints on government power, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil justice, and criminal justice.
The findings are based on surveys involving 215,000 households and 3,400 legal professionals and experts. The countries and jurisdictions covered represent about 95 per cent of the world’s population.
Afghanistan performed poorly across most categories. It ranked 135th in criminal justice, 140th in fundamental rights and order and security, 138th in civil justice, 137th in regulatory enforcement, 131st in absence of corruption and open government, and 125th in constraints on government powers.
The rankings reflect growing concerns over judicial independence, press freedom, civil liberties, and government accountability under Taliban rule.
The report comes months after media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said the Taliban had turned Afghanistan into “a prison for information” over the past five years.
According to RSF, the Taliban have issued more than 20 national directives and several provincial decrees since taking power in August 2021, steadily restricting journalists and independent media.
The organisation said criticism of the regime is now prohibited, women face sweeping restrictions, political debate has been silenced, and broadcasting images of living beings is banned.
RSF also highlighted a leaked Code of Criminal Procedure secretly adopted by Taliban courts in January 2026. Although the code does not explicitly mention the press, it provides no protection for journalists and leaves them exposed to prosecution and severe penalties, including imprisonment.
The code prescribes prison terms and flogging for insulting Taliban leadership, effectively criminalising criticism of the authorities. It also penalises contact with government opponents.
“By criminalising media professionals, the de facto authorities are seeking absolute control over the flow of information,” said Celia Mercier, head of RSF’s South Asia Desk.
(Inputs from IANS)