KABUL, Afghanistan — As corporal punishments continue by the Taliban, two women and three men were flogged in the central province of Parwan on charges of “adultery and illicit relationships,” according to a Taliban statement.
The statement said the individuals were lashed between 30 and 39 times each in a sports stadium in Charikar, the provincial capital.
In addition to the flogging, the accused were sentenced to prison terms ranging from two to six years.
Local Taliban officials, including judicial authorities and the Taliban governor of Parwan, attended the public punishment alongside other officials and local residents, the statement said. The sentences were carried out following approval by the Taliban-run Supreme Court.
Over the past two months, the Taliban have flogged 145 people across several provinces, including 22 women, for offenses ranging from “moral crimes” to theft.
The Taliban’s use of corporal punishment has drawn widespread condemnation both domestically and internationally. Human rights organizations have criticized the practice as a violation of human rights and human dignity, calling for an immediate halt to such punishments.
Since regaining power in August 2021, the Taliban have increasingly implemented harsh penalties under their strict interpretation of Islamic law, including public floggings and executions. These actions have fueled concerns over the erosion of basic freedoms and protections for Afghan citizens, particularly women.
