At least three people were publicly flogged by the Taliban in the city of Sharana in the eastern province of Paktika on Monday, a spokesman for the group in the province, Sanaullah Masum, confirmed.
A resident of the province who was at the scene said that dozens of people were brought together by the Taliban to watch the event but that no one was allowed to photograph or film the proceedings.
The three men each received 39 lashes and were sentenced to between 8 months and six years in prison by a Taliban court.
One of them was accused of stealing a motorbike while another was accused of robbing a money exchange shop in the province. The third was also accused of robbery, according to the resident.
This comes after 14 people were publicly lashed by the Taliban in Logar province last week after being found guilty of various crimes including robbery and adultery.
In another incident in Bamiyan this month, a couple were lashed publicly by the Taliban for having an affair.
The Taliban’s implementation of Sharia law has sparked widespread concerns and condemnation – including by the UN.
But Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid defended their decision on meting out punishments publicly, and said they condemn remarks of UN and western envoys against the new practice and said the remarks were biased.
