KABUL, Afghanistan — Taliban publicly flogged two women and three men in the northern provinces of Kunduz and Faryab, accusing them of “moral corruption” and fleeing from home, according to statements issued by the Taliban’s Supreme Court.
Each of the individuals received 39 lashes and was sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to two years, the court said in separate announcements. The punishments, it added, were carried out after approval from Taliban judicial authorities.
In Faryab, the public punishment was attended by local Taliban judicial officials, members of their civil and military administration, and local residents, the statements said.
Since last month, the Taliban have carried out public floggings of at least 38 people, including nine women, across various provinces on charges ranging from extramarital affairs to theft.
The Taliban’s use of corporal punishment has drawn sharp condemnation from international human rights organizations, including the United Nations, which has called for an immediate end to the practice.
