Taliban Flogs 25 People In Kabul On Drug-Related Charges

The Taliban’s Supreme Court has announced that 25 individuals were publicly flogged in Kabul after being convicted by the group’s primary counter-narcotics court on charges of selling and trafficking hashish, methamphetamine, and tablet K — a synthetic drug.

According to the court’s statement, the individuals received sentences ranging from 10 to 39 lashes, along with prison terms between seven months and two years. The statement did not provide further details about the legal proceedings, including whether the accused had access to legal representation or where the punishments were carried out.

Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, international human rights organisations have repeatedly condemned the use of corporal punishment and called on the group to end practices deemed to be torture under international law.