Taliban Carry Out Public Floggings in Northern Afghanistan

Taliban Carry Out Public Floggings in Northern Afghanistan
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Taliban authorities have flogged three people, including a woman, in Afghanistan’s northern Faryab province after convicting them of what they described as illicit relations and fleeing home, Amu TV reported. The Taliban Supreme Court said the punishments were implemented following judicial rulings.

In a statement, the court said the floggings took place in Khwaja Musa and Qaramqol districts. Each individual received between 30 and 39 lashes, while two were additionally sentenced to three years in prison. The court said the punishments were carried out with official approval and in the presence of Taliban officials and local residents.

The incident comes amid a reported increase in public corporal punishments since the start of the year. Taliban court data indicate at least 37 people were flogged across 10 provinces within the first week alone, for offences including theft, adultery, alcohol sales and forgery. Rights advocates say such measures spread fear, while Taliban officials defend them as enforcement of Islamic law.