Hamia Naderi
Following their takeover of Afghanistan, the Taliban continue to implement brutal corporal punishments, contradicting their claims of respecting human rights and human dignity. In less than a month, 78 individuals were publicly flogged in summary justice courts across 14 provinces, including Kabul, Takhar, Ghazni, Balkh, Kapisa, Nangarhar, Faryab, Sar-e Pol, Jowzjan, Samangan, Laghman, Herat, Khost, and Parwan. The perpetrators, convicted of crimes such as absconding from home, engaging in extramarital relationships, theft, trading or consuming alcohol, and sodomy, faced swift and harsh punishments. Official reports indicate that among the flogged were 15 women and 63 men, though experts suspect the true numbers may be even higher due to underreporting from remote regions.
According to statements from the Taliban’s High Court and reports published by the 8Sobh newspaper, between early 2024 and mid-August 2024, the public floggings have taken place in various provinces. Detailed figures reveal that in Ghazni, for example, six individuals—including two women—were flogged; in Kabul, seven; in Balkh, two; in Kapisa, six; in Faryab, three; in Takhar, four; in Sar-e Pol, one; in Nangarhar, three; in Jowzjan, 13 (including five women); in Samangan, one; in Laghman, six; in Herat, three; in Bamyan, three; in Parwan, four (including two women); and in Khost, 18 (including four women).
Additional reports suggest that since the Taliban assumed control, more than 715 people have been subjected to public floggings. The breakdown by Afghan calendar years shows 221 floggings in one year, 104 the previous year, 386 before that, and even four recorded in an earlier period—with 136 of those punished being women.
Human rights organizations have also raised alarm over other severe abuses. A recent report by the advocacy group Rawadari documented that in 2024 alone, at least 524 individuals were flogged on charges ranging from absconding to extramarital relations, theft, insults, and fraud. The report further noted that the Taliban courts have not shied away from imposing capital punishments, including public executions and stoning sentences, particularly against those accused of murder or extramarital relations.
In a broader context, the judicial system under the Taliban has undergone dramatic changes. The previous structure—comprising a coordinated effort among the police, public prosecutor (Sarnavalli), and the courts—has been dismantled. The role of investigating crimes and prosecuting offenders, once managed by a dedicated public prosecutor, now rests solely on the shoulders of Taliban judges. This restructuring has undermined the fundamental principles of due process and accountability previously enshrined in Afghan law.
These ongoing punitive measures and systemic overhauls highlight the Taliban’s unwavering commitment to an austere interpretation of justice—a stance that has sparked widespread concern among international human rights advocates and observers.