Homosexuals punished

Afghanistan: Public floggings again

Taliban security forces stand guard before the public flogging of women and men at a soccer stadium in the city of Charikar in Parwan province in December 2022.

(Bild: AFP)

Two people have been publicly flogged in Afghanistan for alleged homosexual acts.

The Supreme Court of the ruling Islamist Taliban announced on Wednesday that the two people in the northern province of Sar-i Pul had been sentenced to a total of 52 lashes.

Just earlier this month, a court in the same province had a total of 63 men and women flogged. Some of those sentenced were also accused of homosexual acts.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court also announced the public flogging of a person in the eastern Afghan province of Paktia who was accused of "moral crimes". The convicted person must also be imprisoned for one year. In the eastern province of Paktika, the victim's family has since forgiven him for a murder.

Executions and floggings
Following their return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban reintroduced public punishments, including executions and floggings for crimes such as murder, robbery and adultery, despite criticism from human rights organizations and the United Nations. Since then, five men convicted of murder have been publicly executed.

Full introduction of Sharia law
Last March, the supreme Taliban leader Haibatullah Achundsada promised the complete introduction of Sharia law in Afghanistan. In an audio message, he specifically mentioned punishments for adultery such as stoning and public floggings.