Taliban have flogged six people in Jawzjan province in the north, including several accused of “insulting” their officials, according to a statement from the Taliban’s Supreme Court, in a move that has intensified concerns over the enforcement of a new penal code.
The court said the punishments were carried out in Qosh Tepa district under rulings issued by a primary court. Those punished included two women, and the charges ranged from “insulting officials” to allegations of illicit relations and violating fasting rules during Ramadan.
The defendants were sentenced to corporal punishment and prison terms under the Taliban’s recently enacted penal code, which sets out a wide range of offenses and penalties. The code, approved by the Taliban’s supreme leader roughly two months ago, contains more than 100 articles and has drawn sharp criticism from rights advocates.
This marks at least the second reported case in which individuals have been punished specifically for alleged insults against Taliban authorities since the code was introduced.
In a similar case earlier this year, a man in Badghis province in the west was sentenced to 39 lashes and one year in prison for allegedly insulting the Taliban’s leader, according to local sources and court statements.
Experts say the implementation of the law appears inconsistent with its stated provisions. Previous reviews of the penal code indicated that insulting Taliban officials could carry penalties of up to 20 lashes and six months in prison. However, recent cases suggest harsher punishments are being imposed.
Critics say the provisions related to “insult” are broadly defined and could be used to suppress dissent and silence critics. Human rights groups have warned that the code formalizes restrictions on freedom of expression and expands the use of corporal punishment.
Concerns have also been raised about other aspects of the law, including provisions that rights advocates say disproportionately affect women and impose strict penalties related to personal behavior and religious adherence. Some analysts say the code reflects an effort to institutionalize a rule that limits civil liberties while granting broad discretion to authorities.
Taliban have defended their legal framework as consistent with their interpretation of Islamic law and have not publicly responded to the latest criticism.
Since returning to power in 2021, Taliban have repeatedly carried out public floggings and other corporal punishments, practices that have drawn condemnation from the United Nations and international rights organizations.
