KABUL, Afghanistan – Taliban on Wednesday criticized the UN mission in Afghanistan for what it called “unacceptable overreach,” after UNAMA condemned the recent public executions as a violation of human rights. Taliban called UNAMA’s position “irresponsible” and accused it of lacking understanding of Islamic law.
In a statement, the Taliban-run Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the implementation of qisas — the Islamic law principle of retributive justice — is their legal obligation and warned the UN mission against making similar remarks in the future.
“The enforcement of qisas is a responsibility,” the statement said, adding that UNAMA should “refrain from such statements in the future.”
UNAMA had previously condemned the executions, which took place on Friday, April 11, in the provinces of Badghis, Farah, and Nimroz. The four men were accused of murder and executed in public by firearm, according to witnesses. Taliban said the punishments were carried out in accordance with Islamic law.
In its statement, UNAMA expressed concern that the use of the death penalty violates the fundamental right to life. “We call for an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty as a step toward its abolition,” the mission said.
Witnesses said the executions were conducted in public and that families of the victims were present. In at least one case, relatives of the accused had reportedly offered to pay diyya, or blood money, but the execution proceeded nonetheless.
The executions mark a continued implementation of the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic justice, drawing widespread international criticism and raising questions about due process and judicial transparency under their rule.
