RASC News Agency: Local sources in Khost province report that Taliban officials from the local court publicly whipped five individuals in Ismail Khail district on various charges. In a statement released on Thursday, April 25, the Taliban’s Supreme Court stated that, based on a ruling from the group’s primary court in Ismail Khail district of Khost province, five individuals were publicly whipped on charges of robbery, theft, and moral corruption.
According to the statement, the first defendant received 39 lashes and five years in prison, the second received 39 lashes and three years in prison, the third and fourth received 30 lashes and eight months in prison, and the fifth received 39 lashes and four years in prison. Sources confirmed to the media that the whippings were carried out publicly by Taliban officials the previous day.
In a related event, the Taliban’s Supreme Court also reported the public whipping of three individuals accused of theft in Deh Yak district of Ghazni province on the same day. Since coming to power in Afghanistan, the Taliban has begun implementing public sharia punishments, including the stoning of women. To date, dozens of individuals have been publicly punished.
Human rights organizations regard public punishments as a violation of individuals’ human dignity and have called for their cessation.
