Taliban Flogs 17 Individuals Publicly for Violating Islamic Law

The Taliban have publicly flogged 17 individuals in Kabul, administering up to 35 lashes each as punishment for violating their interpretation of Islamic law. This incident, part of a broader trend of corporal punishment under Taliban rule, highlights the regime’s strict enforcement of laws against alcohol and drug offences. According to the Taliban’s Supreme Court, these sentences were handed down following a hearing at the Kabul Provincial Narcotics and Intoxicants Prevention Primary Court.

The court stated that the 17 individuals were convicted of selling and smuggling narcotics, alcoholic beverages, and hashish. The initial sentences included mandatory imprisonment ranging from seven months to three years and six months, along with 15 to 35 lashes. The Supreme Court confirmed these harsh penalties, illustrating the Taliban’s commitment to their stringent legal framework.

Increasing Incidence of Public Floggings

Reports from news outlet Kabul Now indicate that public floggings and other forms of corporal punishment have surged since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021. Victims of these punishments have included men, women, and children accused of various offences, such as adultery and theft. In some instances, individuals have faced flogging for what the regime labels as the “immoral crime” of homosexuality.

A troubling report from the United Nations indicated that in one day, a 12-year-old boy and an adult man were both publicly flogged for immorality. On the same day, in Balkh province, a woman and a man were similarly punished for running away from home and committing adultery, receiving 35 lashes each.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) documented a striking 234 public floggings occurring within just three months of this year, with June alone seeing over 80 individuals whipped across multiple provinces. A spokesperson from UNAMA remarked, “The de facto authorities… continue to implement judicial corporal punishment in public,” noting that such actions violate international human rights law, which prohibits cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

Calls for Human Rights Protections

The UN has urged the Taliban to cease corporal punishment practices, emphasizing the need for respect for due process and fair trial rights. The spokesperson reiterated the importance of access to legal representation for anyone facing criminal charges in Afghanistan. As the situation evolves, the international community remains watchful of the Taliban’s adherence to human rights standards.

This latest incident of public flogging comes in the wake of other similar cases globally, including an instance in Indonesia where a woman was whipped in public for violating Sharia Law. Such events raise ongoing concerns about the treatment of individuals accused of legal violations under strict interpretations of religious laws.