The Taliban’s Supreme Court announced in a statement on February 23 that local officials of the group publicly flogged two women and a man in Ghazni and Herat provinces. This act is part of the Taliban’s broader campaign of imposing their strict interpretation of Islamic law, which has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organizations.
Sentences and Public Punishment
According to the statement, the primary court of Deh Yak district of Ghazni province convicted a man and a woman due to “extramarital relations” and sentenced them to two years of imprisonment and 35 lashes each. The punishments were carried out in public, a method frequently used by the Taliban to instill fear among the population.
In a separate incident, the Taliban’s court in Herat province announced that another woman had been convicted on similar charges and sentenced to six months in prison and 15 lashes. Her punishment was also executed in a public setting, in the presence of local residents and Taliban officials.
A Pattern of Brutality
Public floggings, executions, and other forms of corporal punishment have been a hallmark of Taliban rule both in the 1990s and since their return to power in 2021. Despite promises of a more moderate approach, the group has repeatedly enforced brutal penalties, particularly against women and those accused of “moral crimes.”
Since their takeover of Afghanistan, the Taliban have reinstated policies reminiscent of their previous regime (1996–2001), when public punishments, including stoning and amputations, were carried out in stadiums. In late 2022, the group resumed public executions, and dozens of people have since been flogged for alleged moral and criminal offenses. These actions violate international human rights laws and have been widely denounced by organizations such as the United Nations and Amnesty International.
International Condemnation and Calls for Action
The Taliban’s judicial system lacks due process, and trials are often conducted in secrecy, with defendants denied access to legal representation. Human rights groups argue that these punishments constitute torture under international law.
Activists have repeatedly urged the international community to take stronger measures against the Taliban, including sanctions and diplomatic pressure, to end these abuses. However, with the group remaining in control and enforcing its hardline policies with impunity, justice for victims of such punishments remains elusive.
The resurgence of these brutal tactics highlights the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly for women, who face increasing restrictions on their freedoms and rights. The Taliban’s continued use of public punishments serves as a grim reminder of their oppressive rule, despite global condemnation.
