Taliban publicly flogged a man and a woman in Afghanistan’s northern Takhar province on Sunday after convicting them of having an “illicit relationship” and running away from home, according to a statement from their Supreme Court.
The court said the punishment was carried out in Darqad district, where each of the two was sentenced to one year in prison and 25 lashes.
The floggings are part of a broader increase in corporal punishment since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.
Data reviewed by Amu show that at least 320 people have been flogged across Afghanistan over the past three months. Of those, 71 were punished in Mizan (September–October), 100 in Aqrab (October–November) and 147 so far in Qaws (November–December), marking a 47% increase compared with the previous month.
Kabul recorded the highest number of floggings during the current month, with at least 65 cases, followed by Khost with 34 and Takhar with 10, the data show.
International human rights organisations have repeatedly condemned the Taliban’s use of corporal punishment, describing it as a violation of international law and a form of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
In a recent report to the United Nations Security Council, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the Taliban had flogged at least 215 people in the past three months, including 42 women, for offences such as adultery, running away from home, alcohol consumption and gambling.
The report, presented by UNAMA deputy head Georgette Gagnon, also said UN monitors documented around 160 grave human rights violations affecting at least 90 children between July 1 and Sept. 30, including killings, denial of humanitarian aid and attacks on schools and hospitals.
The Taliban claim their judicial system is based on their interpretation of Islamic law and have rejected international criticism of punishments carried out by their courts.
