A court in Afghanistan ordered flogging of 11 men and three women for their involvement in theft and moral crimes.
The public lashings on Wednesday are the first since the Taliban’s supreme leader directed judges to enforce Islamic law/sharia. He said the corporal punishment was obligatory for certain crimes in Afghanistan.
“Fourteen people were given discretionary punishment, of which 11 were men and three were women,” a government official said.
“The maximum number of lashes for anyone was 39.”
Hibatullah Akhundzada ordered judges in November to enforce Islamic law that include public executions, stoning, floggings, and the amputation of limbs for thieves.
Taliban chief spokesman said, “Carefully examine the cases of thieves, kidnappers and seditionists.”
“Those files in which all the sharia conditions of ‘hudud’ and ‘qisas’ are applicable, you are required to implement.”
Hudud refers to offences pertaining adultery for which corporal punishment is mandated in Sharia, while qisas translates as “retaliation in kind” – an eye for an eye.
Social media has been awash for months with videos and pictures of Taliban fighters meting out summary floggings to people accused of various offences.
However, this is the first time that officials have confirmed such punishment ordered by a court.
