The Taliban’s Supreme Court has announced that an individual convicted of theft was publicly flogged in Sar-e Pol province. The court stated that the person was sentenced to one year in prison and received 39 lashes.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the court confirmed that the flogging was carried out in the presence of local officials, court staff, security personnel, and members of the public.
Over the past three months, at least 213 individuals including 169 men and 44 women have reportedly been subjected to flogging by the Taliban authorities.
On Thursday, a group of United Nations human rights experts issued a statement calling on the Taliban to immediately cease all forms of inhuman punishment in Afghanistan, including public executions and floggings.
The Taliban have defended such practices as part of the enforcement of “Islamic Sharia,” and have urged international organisations to refrain from interfering in what they describe as domestic judicial matters.
