The Taliban’s Supreme Court has announced the public execution of four men in three different provinces of Afghanistan in a single day, prompting renewed condemnation from human rights organizations and international observers.
According to Taliban statements, two men named Salman and Haidar were executed in Qala-e-Naw, the capital of Badghis province. Abdul Qadir was executed in a stadium in Zaranj, the capital of Nimroz, and Mohammad Sadiq was executed in Farah province. All were reportedly convicted of murder and sentenced under the principle of qisas (retribution), with final approval from Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.
The executions were carried out in public, in front of large crowds, with the Taliban having issued calls for public attendance while banning smartphones and weapons at the scenes. No visual documentation of the executions has been released so far.
These events mark the ninth confirmed public execution since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. Previous executions occurred in Farah, Ghazni, Jawzjan, and Paktia provinces.
Human rights organizations, including the United Nations, have repeatedly condemned the Taliban’s use of capital punishment and labeled the judicial process as lacking transparency, due process, and access to legal defense. Many trials under Taliban courts are considered “summary trials,” often held without sufficient evidence or independent oversight.
Observers warn that such actions not only violate international human rights law but also mirror practices from the Taliban’s first regime (1996–2001), when public executions and corporal punishments were routine.
The UN and rights groups continue to urge the Taliban to immediately halt executions and respect international legal standards.
