Taliban publicly flogged two men in the eastern province of Paktika on Wednesday as their use of corporal punishment continues.
The Taliban-run supreme court said in a statement that the two men had been convicted of adultery. One was sentenced to 39 lashes and five years in prison, while the other received 29 lashes and a two-month prison term.
This latest incident adds to a growing number of public floggings carried out by the Taliban in recent months. In the past two months alone, nearly 160 people have been flogged by the Taliban in various provinces.
The Taliban’s public punishments have drawn widespread condemnation both within Afghanistan and internationally. Human rights organizations have denounced the practice as a clear violation of human rights and human dignity, calling for an immediate end to such punishments.
Human rights advocates have urged the international community to exert greater pressure on the Taliban to halt these practices and to continue supporting efforts to protect human rights in Afghanistan.
The Taliban have intensified their enforcement of strict punishments since regaining power in 2021, raising concerns among rights groups about the erosion of human rights and the return of harsh justice practices. Observers warn that such actions may further alienate the Taliban from the global community and deepen the isolation of Afghanistan’s population.
