KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Several individuals across multiple provinces in Afghanistan have been subjected to corporal punishment following rulings by primary courts, according to local judicial authorities.
In Dai Kundi Province, four individuals were punished on Monday, March 30, 2026, after being convicted of breaking the fast and transporting alcohol. The Primary Court sentenced them to between two months and two years of enforced imprisonment, along with 20 to 39 lashes as discretionary punishment. The sentences were carried out after being approved by the Supreme Court, in the presence of senior judicial officials.
On the same day in Shirin Tagab District of Faryab Province, three individuals, including one woman, were punished for illicit relations. Each was sentenced to one year of enforced imprisonment and 31 lashes. The punishment was implemented publicly following approval by higher judicial authorities, with the presence of court officials, religious scholars, local authorities, and members of the public.
A day later, on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, two individuals in Shortepa District of Balkh Province were punished after being convicted on charges of sodomy. The court had sentenced them to two years of enforced imprisonment and between 30 to 39 lashes, a decision that was carried out after confirmation by the Supreme Court.
On the same day in Hazrat Sultan District of Samangan Province, four individuals, including two women, were punished on charges of fleeing home and alleged adultery. The Primary Court sentenced them to 39 lashes each, and the ruling was implemented in the presence of local authorities and members of the public after receiving final approval.
The Taliban have repeatedly carried out public floggings of individuals accused of moral or sexual offenses, and 12 people have been executed in front of hundreds of spectators.
These incidents highlight the ongoing application of corporal punishment within Afghanistan’s judicial system under the current authorities. The enforcement of such penalties, particularly in public settings, continues to raise concerns among international observers and human rights organizations, who have repeatedly called for adherence to international legal standards and the protection of fundamental human rights.
Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have resumed the use of corporal punishment and public enforcement of sentences as part of their interpretation of Islamic law, a practice that has drawn criticism from international human rights organizations, while the group continues to defend the measures as lawful and deterrent.
