KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban has publicly flogged three individuals in separate provinces on charges of theft, sodomy, and moral corruption, as announced by the group’s Supreme Court.
In separate statements released on Monday, the court said the floggings were conducted in the presence of Taliban authorities and gathered crowds.
One case took place in eastern Paktika province on Sunday, where a man was lashed 39 times for moral corruption and sentenced to six years in prison.
In central Urozgan province, another individual received 39 lashes and a six-month prison sentence on charges of sodomy.
The third incident occurred in northern Kunduz province, where an individual accused of theft was publicly flogged 39 times and sentenced to one year in prison.
Public corporal punishments have become a hallmark of the Taliban’s judicial system since their return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
The practice has been widely criticized by rights groups, the UN, and activists, who argue it violates basic human rights and fosters a climate of fear among the Afghan population.
Taliban authorities defend their actions, asserting that they are in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law. They dismiss international criticism as unwarranted interference in Afghanistan’s domestic affairs.
