The Taliban’s Supreme Court said on Sunday it had flogged six people, including two women, in Jawzjan province and sentenced them to prison. Some of those punished were accused of “insulting” Taliban officials.
Under Afghanistan’s previous government, criticism or insults directed at officials did not carry criminal penalties. Since returning to power, however, the Taliban, similar to Iran, have detained and punished citizens on charges of insulting officials.
In a statement, the Taliban’s Supreme Court did not specify what type of remarks led to the convictions or floggings. The court has also punished individuals with flogging and prison sentences for extramarital relations and for breaking the fast during Ramadan.
The court has imposed lengthy prison terms for extramarital relations. In Balkh and Jawzjan provinces, Taliban courts have sentenced accused men and women to five and six years in prison respectively.
The human rights organisation Rawadari said in a report on Thursday that the Taliban carried out “cruel, inhuman and degrading” punishments over the past year, including issuing qisas (retribution) sentences for six people, stoning a woman, and flogging 857 individuals.
Despite opposition from international organisations to torture and corporal punishment, the Taliban have continued to carry out public floggings. The group describes such punishments, imposed by courts under its control, as enforcement of “Islamic law”.
