The Taliban have publicly flogged a man accused of theft in Afghanistan’s Wardak Province, sentencing him to 32 lashes and three years in prison, according to a statement released by the Taliban’s Supreme Court.
The punishment was carried out in Jalrez District, where local Taliban judicial officials, district leaders, and residents gathered to observe the event. The Taliban asserted that the sentence was approved by their Supreme Court and executed in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law.
Rise in public punishments
The flogging is part of a broader pattern of public corporal punishment that has increased significantly under Taliban rule. Since early November, at least 124 people—including 18 women—have been publicly lashed across various provinces for offenses such as theft, adultery, and other moral violations.
Reports indicate that the provinces of Jawzjan and Khost have witnessed the highest numbers of such punishments, with 22 cases in Jawzjan and 25 in Khost during this period.
The use of public corporal punishment has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights organizations, which have decried the practice as a violation of human rights and human dignity. Advocates have called on the Taliban to halt these actions immediately, warning that they undermine fundamental principles of justice and humanity.
