By: Zubaida
Kabul, Afghanistan – The Taliban’s Supreme Court revealed that over 580 people, including 42 women, were publicly flogged across 23 provinces in 2024, signaling the group’s continued reliance on corporal punishment to enforce their interpretation of Islamic law.
During the last two months, 93 individuals, including 12 women, were flogged in 10 provinces. The charges leading to these punishments included offenses such as “adultery, running away from home, sodomy, theft, and acts deemed contrary to Sharia law,” according to Taliban officials.
The practice of public flogging, often carried out in front of large crowds, has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights advocates who argue that such punishments violate international human rights standards and further entrench fear and repression in Afghanistan society.
“The Taliban’s use of public flogging as a means of enforcing their interpretation of Sharia law is not only a gross violation of human rights but also an affront to human dignity,” said Heather Barr, associate women’s rights director at Human Rights Watch.
Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have steadily escalated the use of corporal punishment despite international outcry. These public floggings, alongside other restrictive measures—such as curbs on women’s education and employment—underscore the group’s rigid ideological stance and growing isolation on the world stage.
Citizens in Afghanistan, particularly women, continue to face significant risks under Taliban rule. Those subjected to corporal punishment often lack access to due process, with trials held in Taliban-controlled courts that offer little transparency or opportunity for defense.
The international community has repeatedly urged the Taliban to adhere to global human rights standards. However, the group maintains that their actions align with their interpretation of Islamic law, dismissing external criticism as interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
The Taliban’s escalating use of corporal punishment raises concerns about the long-term implications for the country’s social fabric and human rights. Despite mounting pressure, the group shows no sign of relenting in pursuing what it deems moral and legal rectitude.
