Kabul, October 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Afghanistan has ranked 142nd among 143 countries and jurisdictions in the 2026 Rule of Law Index, placing it just above Venezuela, according to the World Justice Project (WJP). Haiti ranked 141st, while Denmark, Norway and Finland occupied the top three positions.
The index assesses countries across eight areas: constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil justice and criminal justice. Its findings draw on surveys involving 215,000 households and 3,400 legal practitioners and experts, covering jurisdictions representing around 95 per cent of the world’s population.
Afghanistan performed poorly across several categories, ranking 140th in fundamental rights and in order and security, 138th in civil justice, 137th in regulatory enforcement and 135th in criminal justice. It ranked 131st in both absence of corruption and open government, and 125th in constraints on government powers.
The ranking comes amid continuing concerns over restrictions on media freedom under Taliban rule, which began in August 2021.
In August, media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said the Taliban had issued more than 20 national directives, along with provincial decrees, that it said had steadily restricted press freedom and narrowed the space available to journalists and independent media.
RSF has also raised concerns over a Code of Criminal Procedure reportedly adopted by Taliban authorities in January 2026. The watchdog said the leaked text offered no specific protection for media professionals and exposed them to legal threats and severe penalties.
According to RSF, provisions involving insults against Taliban leaders and contact with government opponents could further threaten journalists and restrict criticism of the authorities.
Celia Mercier, head of RSF’s South Asia Desk, said the restrictions had progressively reduced space for independent reporting, political debate and women journalists.
The rule of law index provides a broader assessment of institutional performance, while the concerns raised by RSF focus specifically on media freedom and the treatment of journalists in Afghanistan.
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