KHOST, Afghanistan — The Taliban publicly flogged five individuals, including a woman, in Khost province on Sunday, according to a statement from the Taliban’s Supreme Court.
Two of the individuals, including the woman, were punished for “immoral relations,” while three others were accused of adultery.
The court reported that one person was sentenced to a year in prison and another to 18 months, with both receiving 39 lashes. The remaining three individuals also received 39 lashes each and were sentenced to four years in prison.
This follows a series of public floggings across Afghanistan in recent days. Earlier this week, eight men and two women were publicly flogged in the provinces of Khost, Ghor, and Balkh.
Over the past month, the Taliban have flogged 116 people, including 18 women, on charges ranging from theft to so-called moral offenses. The provinces of Jawzjan and Khost have seen the highest number of such incidents, with 22 and 19 cases of public flogging reported, respectively.
Since seizing power in August 2021, the Taliban have increasingly reverted to the harsh policies of their 1990s regime, including the use of corporal punishment. Public lashings and other severe measures have drawn widespread criticism from human rights groups.
International Condemnation
Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, condemned the Taliban’s use of corporal punishment, calling for its immediate cessation.
“Public floggings are a clear violation of international human rights standards,” Mr. Bennett said. Advocacy organizations have similarly decried the punishments, warning that the Taliban’s actions further erode fundamental freedoms and human rights in the country.
The Taliban’s justice system has faced mounting scrutiny for its lack of due process and heavy reliance on public punishments, underscoring the deepening isolation of Afghanistan under their rule.
