RASC News Agency: The European Union has issued a forceful condemnation of the public execution of four men by the Taliban in the provinces of Nimruz, Badghis, and Farah, describing the act as “cruel, inhuman, and a flagrant violation of human dignity.” In an official statement released on Sunday, April 13, the EU urged the Taliban to immediately halt all executions and to take definitive steps toward the complete abolition of the death penalty. “We are unconditionally opposed to capital punishment, in all cases and under all circumstances,” the statement read. “This form of punishment is inherently inhumane, lacks any demonstrable deterrent effect, and represents an intolerable breach of the fundamental right to life.”
The executions were carried out publicly on Friday across multiple provinces, with the Taliban reportedly summoning local residents to gather and witness the proceedings. The spectacle has provoked widespread outrage from international human rights organizations and multilateral institutions. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), along with several prominent human rights groups, had previously voiced serious concern over the Taliban’s resumption of public punishments, calling on the regime to cease such actions without delay.
Responding defiantly to growing global condemnation, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada stated on Sunday that the group would not retreat from enforcing its interpretation of Sharia law. Accusing Western governments of attempting to “impose their values” on Afghanistan, he declared, “We will not abandon Sharia in exchange for money.” Reiterating the ideological foundation of the Taliban’s campaign, Akhundzada emphasized that the ultimate aim of their jihad is the comprehensive implementation of Islamic law, insisting that the group will never compromise its principles in the face of foreign pressure.
