Taliban Increase Public Floggings Amid Rights Concerns

Taliban Increase Public Floggings Amid Rights Concerns
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The Taliban publicly flogged a man and a woman in Afghanistan’s northern Takhar province after convicting them of having an “illicit relationship” and fleeing home, a court statement said, as reported by Amu TV. The punishment was carried out Sunday in Darqad district following a ruling by the Taliban’s Supreme Court.

According to the court, each individual received a sentence of one year in prison and 25 lashes. The case reflects a wider rise in corporal punishment since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, with public floggings increasingly reported across multiple provinces.

Data reviewed by Amu TV indicate that at least 320 people have been flogged nationwide over the past three months, marking a sharp increase month on month. Kabul recorded the highest number of cases recently, followed by Khost and Takhar, highlighting the expanding scale of such punishments.

International human rights groups have repeatedly condemned the practice, calling it a violation of international law. A recent UN report said hundreds of people, including women and children, were subjected to corporal punishment and other abuses. The Taliban have dismissed criticism, saying their courts operate under their interpretation of Islamic law.