KABUL—The Taliban publicly flogged three individuals in Kunduz Province on charges of “sodomy,” according to a statement from the Taliban-controlled Supreme Court on Saturday.
The statement said each individual received 39 lashes in front of local Taliban judicial officials. In addition to the flogging, the court sentenced one of the individuals to seven years in prison, another to five years, and the third to four years.
This incident is part of a broader surge in public corporal punishments carried out by the Taliban in recent months. Since early November, 136 individuals, including 19 women, have been flogged across various provinces for offenses ranging from theft to “moral crimes,” according to Taliban statements.
The provinces of Jawzjan and Khost have recorded the highest numbers of public floggings, with 22 and 25 cases respectively, as reported by the Taliban’s judiciary.
The Taliban’s growing use of corporal punishment has drawn sharp criticism both within Afghanistan and from the international community. Human rights organizations have condemned the practice as a violation of human rights and human dignity, calling it inconsistent with Afghanistan’s obligations under international law.
Rights groups have urged the Taliban to halt such punishments immediately, arguing that they contravene global norms and further alienate Afghanistan from the international community.
