Taliban Flog 23 People, Including a Woman, in Four Provinces

In yet another instance of harsh punishment, the Taliban publicly flogged 23 individuals, including one woman, across the provinces of Kabul, Paktia, Daikundi, and Badakhshan over the past week.

According to statements from the Taliban Supreme Court, the individuals were punished on charges including theft, sodomy, illicit relationships, extramarital sex, drug trafficking (including meth, hashish, and pills), and gambling.

• In Paktia, two men convicted of theft received 38 lashes each in public, along with prison sentences of eight and ten months
• In Kabul, Daikundi, and Badakhshan, eight people—including one woman—were publicly flogged (up to 39 lashes each) on charges related to sexual misconduct and drug offenses
• In Daikundi, a woman convicted of “illicit relationship” was sentenced to 39 lashes and one year in prison.
• In Kabul, three individuals convicted of trafficking drugs were given 15 to 20 lashes and sentenced to one to two and a half years in prison.
• On Thursday, July 31, 13 people in Kabul were publicly flogged (10 to 30 lashes each) for charges related to gambling and drug trafficking (heroin and hashish). They were also sentenced to 8 to 12 months in prison.

These punishments highlight the Taliban’s continued use of public corporal punishment, drawing strong condemnation from human rights organizations worldwide.