KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban Supreme Court announced that a man was publicly flogged in eastern Parwan province on Wednesday for falsely accusing another man of adultery (Qadhf).
In a statement, the court said the man, identified as Esa Khan, was unable to prove his claim against another man, Abdul Raziq, during the trial, which led to his conviction and a sentence of 80 lashes.
The court stated that the Taliban supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, personally reviewed the case and ordered the punishment to be carried out.
According to the statement, the punishment was carried out in a sports stadium in Parwan in the presence of local authorities and the public.
Over the past three years of their rule, Taliban authorities have publicly flogged hundreds of people across Afghanistan for various charges. In recent months, the regime has escalated its use of corporal punishment.
In its recent report, the UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) documented 111 cases of corporal punishment, including 15 women and a girl, over the past three months (June to September).
In the past ten days alone, Taliban authorities have publicly flogged at least 50 people, including ten women, across several provinces of Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s use of corporal punishment has faced widespread condemnation and criticism from the UN and human rights groups, who have repeatedly urged the regime to halt it, arguing that it violates international and human rights laws.
The Taliban authorities, however, defend their criminal justice system, claiming it aligns with their interpretation of Islamic law. They have rejected international criticism, describing it as interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
