KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban carried out public floggings of two individuals in Kabul and two in Paktia province on Thursday, December 12, as announced by the regime’s supreme court.
In two separate statements today, the Taliban court said that two individuals were flogged for “adultery” in Kabul, while two others were punished for “theft” and “moral corruption” in Paktia.
According to the court, the individuals received between 19 to 39 lashes in the presence of local authorities and the public, along with prison sentences ranging from eight months to one year.
These are the latest instances of corporal punishment by the Taliban. In recent months, they have flogged hundreds of individuals, including women and LGBTQ+ people, on charges the regime deems as “moral corruption.”
Since the beginning of December, the Taliban has publicly flogged at least 21 people, including three women, in Kapisa, Khost, Faryab, and Ghazni provinces on various charges. In November, the Taliban flogged at least 81 people, including 15 women, across Afghanistan.
According to a UN report, between April and June of this year, the Taliban publicly flogged at least 179 individuals, including 28 women and 4 children, on various charges across Afghanistan.
Furthermore, the Taliban continues to carry out public executions of Afghans on charges of murder. Over the past years, the regime has executed at least six individuals in public.
The UN, human rights groups, and activists have condemned the Taliban’s use of corporal punishment and execution as cruel, inhuman, and a violation of international law, urging the regime to cease the practice.
Despite widespread criticism and condemnation, Taliban leaders maintain that their actions are in accordance with Islamic law. They accuse critics of misunderstanding or disagreeing with their interpretation of Sharia.
