KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban has publicly flogged 17 people in Kabul on drug-related charges, the group’s supreme court announced, as corporal punishment continues across Afghanistan.
In a social media post, the court said the individuals were convicted of selling and trafficking narcotic tablets, alcoholic drinks, and hashish. Each received between 10 and 39 lashes, along with prison terms of up to three years. The supreme court approved the ruling before implementation.
This incident marks the latest in a growing wave of corporal punishments by the Taliban. Since returning to power four years ago, the group has flogged hundreds of people across Afghanistan, including women, children, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, on a range of charges.
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.
The UN and international rights groups have consistently condemned such punishments as violations of international human rights law, describing them as “inhumane and degrading.” They have urged the Taliban to halt the practice, emphasizing its incompatibility with global norms and basic human dignity.
The Taliban, however, justify corporal punishments as part of enforcing Islamic Sharia law, accusing critics of misrepresenting Islamic principles and interfering in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
