UN experts have called on the Taliban to immediately end all inhumane punishments, including public executions and corporal punishment in Afghanistan. In a joint statement, they condemned the recent public execution of four individuals, noting that the Taliban has carried out 10 public executions over the past three and a half years.
Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, emphasized that turning executions into public events is indefensible and normalizes violence.
The statement also highlighted that over 210 people, including women, have been publicly flogged since the beginning of 2024. The UN experts warned that such actions violate international human rights standards and foster fear and desensitization within communities.
They expressed particular concern over the lack of due process, especially given the absence of a constitution and clear legal framework under Taliban rule. They stressed that the current justice system lacks independence and procedural safeguards, putting women, girls, and boys at greater risk of injustice.
Despite repeated international condemnation, the Taliban continues to carry out public punishments in defiance of global human rights norms.
