KABUL, Afghanistan — Taliban publicly flogged a woman in Baghlan Province on Tuesday on charges of “procuring,” the Taliban-run Supreme Court announced.
The woman received 30 lashes and was sentenced to six months in prison by a Taliban primary court in Baghlan.
According to the statement, the punishment was carried out in the presence of senior Taliban officials, including Isam-ul-Haq Haqqani, the court’s head, along with judicial personnel and members of the Taliban’s civilian and military staff.
Surge in public punishments
This latest flogging brings the number of individuals publicly punished by the Taliban over the past month to 94, including 14 women, according to Taliban statements. Accusations have ranged from theft to extramarital relationships and other alleged offenses.
Jawzjan and Khost Provinces have reported the highest numbers of public floggings, with 22 and 17 cases, respectively.
Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban have reintroduced public corporal punishment, echoing their practices from the 1990s. Over the past three years, the group has issued 176 qisas (retributive justice) sentences, including stonings and executions, according to data collected by Amu. Six individuals are currently awaiting qisas sentences in Taliban-administered prisons.
Global condemnation
International human rights organizations, including the United Nations Human Rights Council, have condemned the Taliban’s use of corporal punishment and retributive justice. Rights groups have called for an immediate halt to such practices, labeling them as severe violations of human rights and dignity.
