Taliban publicly flog 31 people in one week, including six women

Taliban publicly flog 31 people in one week, including six women

The Taliban publicly flogged at least 31 people, including six women, across six provinces between May 31 and June 7, according to the group’s Supreme Court. Sentences ranged from 10 to 39 lashes, with some individuals also receiving prison terms of six months to four years.

The punishments were carried out in Kabul, Parwan, Paktika, Laghman, Balkh, and Khost for offenses including theft, drug trafficking, and “running away from home.” In one instance, 14 people were flogged in a single day.

Since retaking power in 2021, the Taliban have publicly flogged over 1,000 people, including at least 160 women. The UN and human rights groups have condemned the practice as a violation of international law.

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, called the recent surge in floggings “brutal” and warned against forcibly returning asylum seekers to the country.