As public punishments continue, seven individuals were lashed in public by the Taliban in the eastern province of Khost and the northern province of Faryab.
The Taliban-controlled Supreme Court said in a statement that one person in Faryab was sentenced to “39 lashes” and three years of imprisonment for “illicit relations.”
In another statement, the court said six individuals in Khost province were sentenced to “35 lashes” each for similar charges of “illicit relationships, forgery, and bribery.”
The court also imposed prison terms ranging from one to two years for the accused.
According to the court, these punishments were carried out publicly in Pashtun Kot district of Faryab and the provincial capital of Khost, in the presence of local judicial officials, security personnel, and members of the public.
Surge in public floggings
Public corporal punishments have sharply increased in recent months. Since early November, the Taliban have flogged at least 123 people, including 18 women, in various provinces for alleged crimes.
The provinces of Jawzjan and Khost have seen the highest number of public floggings, with 22 cases reported in Jowzjan and 25 in Khost.
Since regaining power in August 2021, the Taliban have reintroduced policies reminiscent of their 1990s rule. Public corporal punishment, including flogging, has become a widespread practice across Afghanistan.
Human rights organizations have strongly condemned the Taliban’s actions, calling them violations of human rights and human dignity. They have urged the Taliban to immediately cease such punishments, which have sparked widespread domestic and international criticism.
