Findings of Green Criminology in the Afghan Penal Code

This study examines green criminology and its reflection in the Afghan Penal Code (Articles 807 to 850). The main research question is to what extent the principles of green criminology have been incorporated into Afghanistan's criminal policy. The research methodology is based on content analysis of legal provisions and a comparative review with the principles of green criminology. The findings indicate that despite the legislator's efforts to criminalize certain environmental violations, there are shortcomings such as the failure to criminalize some significant environmental offenses, weaknesses in monitoring the activities of foreign companies, and the absence of effective policies for environmental damage compensation. This study suggests that to address environmental crises, legal mechanisms should be strengthened, regulatory institutions should be expanded, and environmental compensation policies should be revised. In recent years, environmental concerns and their consequences have highlighted the necessity of criminalizing environmental offenses more than ever. Green criminology, as an emerging branch of criminology, focuses on studying environmental crimes, environmental criminal policies, and preventive strategies. This research examines Articles 807 to 850 of the Afghan Penal Code from the perspective of green criminology and analyzes their alignment with its principles. The findings show that despite Afghanistan's legislative efforts to criminalize certain environmental violations and crimes, there are still deficiencies such as the lack of criminalization of some critical environmental harms, weak oversight of foreign companies' operations, and the absence of effective policies for environmental damage compensation. This study recommends that to combat environmental crises, legal frameworks should be reinforced, regulatory institutions should be developed, and environmental compensation policies should be reassessed.