RASC News Agency: The Taliban publicly flogged two individuals in Samkani District, Paktia Province, on charges of “theft and moral corruption.” According to a statement released by the Taliban-controlled Supreme Court, both individuals were sentenced to 39 lashes each and prison terms ranging from eight months to one year. The statement emphasized that the punishment was implemented after receiving final approval from the Taliban’s Supreme Court. The public flogging took place in the presence of local Taliban judicial officials, the district governor, the district commander, various Taliban administrators, and local residents.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of increasing public corporal punishments under Taliban rule in recent months. Since the beginning of October, 133 individuals, including 19 women, have been publicly flogged in various provinces across Afghanistan for a range of alleged crimes. Provinces such as Jowzjan and Khost have recorded the highest numbers of such punishments, with 22 cases documented in Jowzjan and 25 in Khost. These public floggings, along with other forms of corporal punishment, have sparked widespread outrage at both national and international levels.
Human rights organizations have strongly condemned these actions, describing them as blatant violations of human rights and human dignity. They have called for an immediate end to such inhumane practices. However, the Taliban have consistently ignored these criticisms, showing no indication of altering their policies or halting public displays of corporal punishment.
