The Taliban publicly lashed eight individuals in the eastern province of Paktia on Wednesday on charges of theft, murder, kidnapping, and “illicit relationships.”
According to a statement from the Taliban’s Supreme Court, each person received 39 lashes and was sentenced to prison terms ranging from two to ten years.
Local Taliban judicial officials and other Taliban representatives reportedly attended the punishment.
The statement noted that the floggings were carried out following approval from the Taliban’s Supreme Court.
In the past two months, the Taliban have lashed 153 individuals, including 22 women, in various provinces for alleged offenses.
The use of public lashings and other physical punishments by the Taliban has drawn widespread criticism both domestically and internationally.
Human rights organizations have condemned these actions as violations of fundamental human rights and human dignity. Activists and global bodies have called for the immediate cessation of such punishments, describing them as cruel and degrading.
The Taliban’s strict enforcement of their interpretation of Islamic law has deepened concerns about the erosion of basic freedoms in Afghanistan since their return to power in 2021.
