UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations has condemned the mass flogging of dozens of people in Afghanistan, calling on the Taliban authorities to end the practice.
About 63 individuals were publicly lashed in the northern province of Saripul on Tuesday, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
UNAMA called on the Taliban to uphold their international human rights commitments and reaffirmed their opposition to physical punishment in a statement that was published on X. “UNAMA reiterates its condemnation of corporal punishment and calls for respect for international human rights obligations,” the organization said.
Since regaining power in August 2021, the Taliban have reintroduced an extreme interpretation of Islamic law, or sharia, which has included public executions and corporal punishments, mainly flogging. These punishments are typically administered for crimes such as theft, adultery, and alcohol consumption.
The resurgence of these harsh penalties has drawn significant international criticism, highlighting the ongoing struggle for human rights in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. The UN’s call to end these practices underscores the global community’s concern over the Taliban’s adherence to international human rights standards and the impact of their judicial practices on the Afghan populace.
