Taliban Flog Ten People, Including Two Women, in Public in Four Provinces

The Taliban’s Supreme Court has announced that ten individuals, including two women, were publicly flogged in the provinces of Laghman, Paktia, Badakhshan, and Kabul. The punishments were carried out on charges including running away from home, adultery, theft, sodomy, and drug trafficking.

In several separate statements issued on Monday, May 26, the court said that these tazir punishments were implemented after receiving approval from the Supreme Court. The floggings took place in the presence of local residents, religious scholars, tribal elders, and Taliban officials.

In the Alingar district of Laghman province, a woman was sentenced to three years in prison and 30 lashes for running away from home. A man convicted of the same offense was sentenced to one year in prison and 30 lashes.

In Ahmadabad district of Paktia province, three men were sentenced to between 30 and 35 lashes each for charges of theft and sodomy.

In the Yaftal district of Badakhshan province, a woman was sentenced to 39 lashes for committing adultery.

In Kabul, four men were convicted of selling narcotic substances, including the drug tablet “Zykap” and hashish. Each received a sentence of seven months in prison and 10 to 20 lashes.

The public execution of these sentences has drawn strong criticism from human rights advocates, who warn that such punishments are degrading, inhumane, and violate international human rights standards. Concerns have also been raised over the lack of due process, transparency, and access to legal defense in the Taliban’s judicial system.

Human rights organizations emphasize that these actions not only undermine the dignity of the accused but also reflect a broader pattern of repression and the use of fear as a tool of governance under Taliban rule.