Discussions Regarding Lifting Sanctions Against Taliban Underway, Says Russian Official

According to the office's statement, these individuals have been accused of committing various crimes.

The office has called on the public to attend the scene to witness the punishment of these individuals.

The governor's office in Uruzgan added that these individuals, with the coordination of the group's Supreme Court, will be flogged in public on Tuesday afternoon at the Tarinkot stadium.

In a note posted on X social media platform, the governor's office emphasised that bringing any kind of phone or camera to the flogging site is "strictly prohibited”.

The Taliban has made public and corporal punishments, including flogging, a regular practice, while human rights organisations have repeatedly objected to such punishments.

Recently, Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, criticised this treatment of the accused and stated that the Taliban has recently intensified the enforcement of Sharia laws.

Omari has described the media and journalists as "sources of moral corruption" and stressed on the need for their reformation.

Sources in Kandahar informed the Pashto section of Afghanistan International that during a meeting with several media workers, Omari reiterated the enforcement of Sharia law.

Omari repeatedly and firmly instructed media officials that "broadcasting women's voices is completely forbidden and should not be aired in any programme”.

On Monday, the heads of the Taliban's Department of Information and Culture, along with representatives of their intelligence agency, held a meeting with journalists and media officials in Kandahar.

During this meeting, journalists from Kandahar complained about mistreatment and demanded timely access to information, cooperation from the Taliban's security agencies in preparing reports, and other issues.

However, three days earlier, the Taliban's police command in Kandahar raided media offices without notifying media officials and took some journalists to their headquarters.

It has been reported that these journalists were released after being detained for a few hours. The reason for their detention by the Taliban remains unknown.

Taliban intelligence has instructed journalists in many provinces to avoid reporting critical and negative topics related to the group, warning that failure to comply will result in serious consequences.

Previously, the Afghanistan Journalists Centre reported that the Taliban have threatened or imprisoned media outlets and journalists who ignored their orders.

According to the centre, from May 2023 to May 2024, at least 136 cases of violations against media freedom and journalists have been recorded.

Bakheet said that the organisation continues its constructive dialogue with the Taliban on women's education and employment and combating terrorism.

According to a press release published by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Bakheet emphasised in his speech on the necessity of a coordinated and integrated strategic approach to address the multiple challenges facing Afghanistan and its people.

He stated that achieving this goal is possible through continuous and constructive interaction with the current rulers of Afghanistan.

The third Doha meeting for Afghanistan was held on Sunday and Monday in the capital of Qatar.

The exclusion of discussion about women's suppression and rights from the third Doha meeting has sparked widespread protests both inside Afghanistan and among Afghan citizens abroad.

Many civil activists, political figures, and Afghan citizens have called for a boycott of this meeting. Meanwhile, the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also described the absence of representatives of Afghan women, religious and ethnic minorities, and human rights activists in the main Doha meeting as "disappointing”.

The ministry stated that without the meaningful and equal participation of Afghan women in the Doha meeting, none of the goals of this meeting will be achieved.

Mujahid emphasised that for the Doha process to be "meaningful," an alternative to poppy cultivation should be financially supported.

He also called for the formation of a working group among participants of the Doha meeting to achieve these objectives.

On Monday, the Taliban released an audio file of Mujahid's speech, the head of their delegation at the third Doha meeting.

In his address, Mujahid detailed the group's proposals and conditions for making the Doha process "meaningful”. He stressed that accepting these proposals would help "build confidence" between the Taliban and other participants in Doha.

Meanwhile, Zakir Jalali, an official from the Taliban's Foreign Ministry, stated on the X social media platform that progress on these demands would impact the group's ongoing cooperation with the Doha process.

Mujahid, who leads the Taliban delegation at the Doha meeting, stated that Norway has a "positive" outlook on Afghanistan.

On Monday, he posted a note on X social media platform, mentioning that Norway emphasised on strengthening relations with Afghanistan under Taliban control.

The Norwegian representative's meeting with the Taliban delegation comes after Norway hosted a meeting between representatives of Afghan civil society and members of the Taliban earlier in May.