Taliban Publicly Flog Over 160 People in Five Weeks, Sparking Human Rights Alarm

Taliban Publicly Flog Over 160 People in Five Weeks, Sparking Human Rights Alarm
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More than 160 people, including 19 women, have been publicly flogged by the Taliban across 18 Afghan provinces over the past 37 days, according to data compiled by Amu from Taliban Supreme Court statements. Kabul recorded the highest number, with 57 public floggings in just over a month.

Those punished faced accusations ranging from “moral corruption” and theft to fleeing home without permission. The floggings, carried out in town squares and marketplaces, have alarmed residents and drawn condemnation from human rights advocates who say the practice violates international law.

Local witnesses describe a climate of fear and frustration, accusing the Taliban of using extreme interpretations of Sharia law to maintain control while evading accountability for their own actions. The U.N. Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Afghanistan has also denounced the punishments, warning that women and girls are especially vulnerable and often sentenced without due process.

Despite international criticism, the Taliban maintain that corporal punishment is part of Islamic justice. Since retaking power, they have flogged over 1,070 people in public, including 178 women, according to Amu. Rights groups continue to urge the global community to hold the Taliban accountable and demand an end to public punishments that they argue are rooted in fear, not justice.