A Taliban-controlled court in Afghanistan made a notable ruling declaring Osama bin Laden 'a man without a sin' in connection to the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. These bombings occurred on August 7, 1998, leading to the deaths of 224 people, including 12 Americans, with thousands more injured. The U.S. government attributed the attacks to bin Laden and his al-Qaeda network and subsequently issued a wanted poster for him, offering a reward for his capture. The Taliban's ruling was significant as it reflected their unwavering support for bin Laden, who was residing in Afghanistan at the time, despite international calls for his extradition and accountability.

The court's statement underscored the Taliban regime's ideological stance and commitment to providing sanctuary to figures perceived as fighters against Western influence. It also painted the broader political backdrop of that era where the Taliban sought legitimacy on the global stage while simultaneously drawing ire from the U.S. and its allies. The issue of bin Laden’s supposed immunity from sin, as declared by the court, was emblematic of the worldview promulgated by the Taliban vis-à-vis their support of militant Islamic leaders. This ruling contributed to an increasing isolation of Afghanistan as an international pariah in the late 1990s.

The U.S., frustrated by the Taliban thumbing its nose at international norms, intensified its approach to counter-terrorism, eventually leading to the military operations that would occur following the September 11, 2001 attacks. This court ruling by the Taliban would thus serve not just as a proclamation of support for bin Laden, but also as a catalyst for future U.S. military intervention in Afghanistan.