According to a statement released by the Supreme Court under Taliban control, on Wednesday, 18 individuals—including two women—were publicly flogged in Kabul, Laghman, and Balkh provinces.
The statement says that 14 people in Kabul were publicly flogged between 20 to 39 lashes for charges related to drug selling and trafficking. They were also sentenced to imprisonment ranging from ten months to three years.
Additionally, the statement notes that two women and two men in Laghman and Balkh were sentenced to imprisonment ranging from seven months to one year for alleged illicit relationships, and each received 39 lashes in public.
It’s worth noting that Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, stated in his report that public corporal punishments by the Taliban have doubled this year compared to the previous year.
“Taliban Administers Corporal Punishment to 18 People Across Three Provinces”
