KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban has publicly flogged two women and two men in Kabul, accusing them of “illicit relationships,” “running away from home,” and “adultery,” the group’s Supreme Court announced Thursday.
In a statement, the court said the individuals were punished in Kabul’s Shakardara district on Wednesday, February 19.
According to the court, two individuals received 38 lashes, while the other two were given 39 lashes. They were also sentenced to prison terms ranging from six months to two years, following a ruling by the district’s primary court.
Following their return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban has made corporal punishment a central component of its penal system. Since then, the regime has publicly flogged dozens of individuals, including women and members of the LGBTQ+ community, for various charges across Afghanistan.
Over the past few months, the Taliban has intensified its use of flogging. At least 37 people—including five women—have been publicly lashed across Afghanistan since early February.
The group has also carried out at least six public executions in recent years.
The UN and human rights organizations have strongly condemned the Taliban’s use of corporal punishment and public executions, calling them violations of international human rights law. They have urged the group to end the practice immediately.
However, the Taliban has defended its actions, insisting it is enforcing Sharia law. The group accuses critics of either misunderstanding Islamic law or harboring biases against Islam.
