Afghanistan faces escalating violence, harsh punishments, and deepening crisis
Afghanistan is facing worsening security conditions, human rights violations, and economic hardship under Taliban rule, with reports highlighting increased public punishments, ongoing violence, and deepening restrictions on freedoms.
According to the Taliban’s Supreme Court, at least 456 people, including 60 women, were publicly flogged across 26 provinces in the past year (March 2024–March 2025). The number of floggings has risen sharply compared to previous years, with only 44 recorded in 2023.
The Taliban have also carried out 176 executions under Qisas (retribution in kind), 37 stoning sentences for alleged adultery, and four instances of “wall-collapse punishment,” historically used against individuals accused of sodomy.
A public execution took place in Paktia province on November 14, 2024, attended by senior Taliban officials. The increasing number of harsh punishments has drawn widespread condemnation, with many Afghans calling on the international community to take action.
Meanwhile, a United Nations report has documented over 9,200 security incidents in Afghanistan between February 2024 and February 2025, contradicting Taliban claims of stability. At least 210 civilians were killed, and 429 others were injured in attacks carried out by various groups. ISIS-K claimed responsibility for 22 attacks.
Armed resistance groups such as the National Resistance Front (NRF) and the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) conducted 264 attacks against Taliban forces. Analysts warn that security threats could worsen due to internal divisions within the Taliban and the resurgence of militant groups.
As the new academic year begins in Afghanistan’s colder regions, there has been no announcement regarding the reopening of schools for girls beyond grade six, marking the fourth consecutive year of their exclusion from secondary education. Women’s rights groups continue to protest the ban, urging the international community to apply pressure.
Amid these challenges, Afghanistan remains the world’s least happy country, scoring just 1.3 out of 10 in the annual World Happiness Report. The ranking reflects widespread poverty, political instability, and severe restrictions on human rights, which have intensified since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
