Constitution

Afghanistan 1964 Constitution

Table of Contents

Preamble

In the Name of God, The Almighty and The Just.

To re-organize the national life of Afghanistan according to the requirements of the time and on the basis of the realities of national history and culture;

To achieve justice and equality;

To establish political, economic and social democracy;

To organize the functions of the State and its branches to ensure liberty and welfare of the individual and the maintenance of the general order;

To achieve a balanced development of all phases of life in Afghanistan; and

To form, ultimately, a prosperous and progressive society based on social co-operation and preservation of human dignity;

We, the people of Afghanistan, conscious of the historical changes which have occurred in our life as a nation and as a part of human society, while considering the above-mentioned values to be the right of all human societies, have, under the leadership of His Majesty Mohammed Zahir Shah, the King of Afghanistan and the leader of its national life, framed this Constitution for ourselves and the generations to come.

Title I. The State

Article 1

Afghanistan is a Constitutional Monarchy; an independent, unitary and indivisible state. Sovereignty in Afghanistan belongs to the nation.

The Afghan nation is composed of all those individuals who possess the citizenship of the State of Afghanistan in accordance with the provisions of the law. The word Afghan shall apply to each such individual.

Article 2

Islam is the sacred religion of Afghanistan. Religious rites performed by the State shall be according to the provisions of the Hanafi doctrine.

Non-Muslim citizens shall be free to perform their rituals within the limits determined by laws for public decency and public peace.

Article 3

From amongst the languages of Afghanistan, Pushtu and Dari shall be the official languages.

Article 4

The flag of Afghanistan is tri-colour— black, red and green —all pieces joined together vertically from left to right in equal proportions; the breadth of each strip equalling half of its length, having in the middle the insignia of the ‘mehrab’ and the menber in white, flanked by two flags and ensconced in two sheaves of wheat.

Article 5

The Capital of Afghanistan is the city of Kabul.