Photo: supremecourt.gov.af

Taliban Publicly Flogs 25 People, Including LGBT Members, in Several Provinces

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Over the past two days, Taliban authorities have publicly flogged 25 individuals, including four members of the LGBT+ community, in the provinces of Uruzgan, Parwan, Panjshir, and Badghis.

In multiple statements during the past two days, the Taliban Supreme Court announced the public floggings, stating that these individuals were convicted of crimes such as adultery, sodomy, theft, and other criminal activities.

According to the Taliban court, 18 people were publicly flogged in a sports stadium in central Uruzgan province on Tuesday, July 2. Earlier today, the office of the Taliban governor in Uruzgan called on public to gather and witness the punishment of these individuals.

On July 1, the Taliban court announced the public flogging of four people in Sayed Khel district of eastern Parwan province on charges of “sodomy.” However, Rainbow Afghanistan, a Germany-based organization advocating for the rights of LGBT+ individuals in Afghanistan, later revealed that these four individuals were members of the LGBT+ community.

The Taliban Supreme Court also announced that local authorities in northeastern Panjshir and northwestern Badghis provinces publicly flogged three people on charges of theft and adultery over the past two days.

The court said that these individuals, in addition to receiving between 20 to 40 lashes each, have also been sentenced to up to several years in prison.

After retaking power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, declared his intention to enforce a strict version of Sharia law, which includes public executions, stonings, floggings, and amputations for thieves.

Since then, hundreds across Afghanistan, including women, have been publicly flogged or had body parts amputated for crimes such as theft and adultery. The regime has also publicly executed at least five people convicted of murder across the country.

The United Nations and international human rights groups have decried the Taliban’s corporal punishment and public executions, emphasizing they are prohibited under international human rights law and demanding they cease immediately.

Previously, Amnesty International urged the Taliban to immediately and unconditionally end the “criminal practice” of public flogging and all other forms of corporal punishment. The watchdog emphasized the need for a formal justice mechanism with fair trials and access to legal remedies.

“The Taliban continue to ignore widespread criticism as they flagrantly flout basic human rights principles in an alarming slide into what looks like a grim reminder of their rule of decades ago,” the watchdog said.

“These outrageous punishments are just another step in the legalization of inhuman practices by the Taliban’s cruel justice system and expose the de-facto authorities’ complete disregard for international human rights law,” it added.

The fundamentalist regime, however, has disregarded international criticism and calls to stop corporal punishment, with its leader stressing the continuation of the practice, saying he is enforcing Sharia law in Afghanistan.