Taliban publicly flogged three individuals in a stadium in Khulm district of the central province of Samangan, according to a statement released Thursday by the Taliban’s Supreme Court.
The individuals, accused of adultery, each received 39 lashes, the statement said. The punishment was carried out following a verdict issued by the Taliban’s primary court in Khulm.
Local Taliban officials, including the head of the primary court, the district governor, the police chief, and other Taliban figures, as well as residents, were present during the public punishment. The identities of the individuals were not disclosed.
Surge in public floggings
In the past month alone, the Taliban have publicly flogged 97 people, including 14 women, across various provinces for offenses ranging from theft to moral misconduct.
Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban have gradually reinstated public corporal punishments reminiscent of their 1990s rule. This includes public floggings, stonings, and executions.
Jawzjan and Khost provinces have seen the highest number of public floggings in the past month, with 22 and 17 cases, respectively.
According to data compiled by Amu, the Taliban have issued 176 qisas (retributive justice) sentences over the past three years. Six individuals currently await qisas sentences in Taliban-controlled prisons.
International condemnation
Global human rights organizations, including the United Nations Human Rights Council, have consistently condemned the Taliban’s use of corporal punishment and retributive justice.
The UN has repeatedly called for an immediate halt to such practices, deeming them violations of fundamental human rights and dignity.
