KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban publicly flogged 17 people in Kabul on drug-related charges on Monday, the group’s supreme court announced, as corporal punishment continues across Afghanistan.
In a statement, the court said the individuals were convicted of selling and trafficking narcotic tablets, alcoholic drinks and hashish. Each received between 15 and 35 lashes, along with prison terms of up to six months. The ruling was approved by the supreme court before implementation.
Public lashings and other corporal punishments have become increasingly common in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Hundreds of people, including women, children and LGBTQ+ Afghans, have been flogged in recent years for offenses such as theft, adultery, and what the group calls “immoral crimes.”
The UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) recorded at least 234 public floggings between April and June this year, including 48 women and one child. In June alone, more than 80 people were whipped in multiple provinces, UNAMA said.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, and the United Nations have criticized the punishments as violations of international law and human dignity, urging the Taliban to halt the practice.
The Taliban defend flogging and other corporal punishments as enforcement of their interpretation of Islamic law and reject international criticism as interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
