Taliban Publicly Flog a Woman in Balkh

Photo: AFP

The Taliban in Balkh province have flogged a woman on charges of “having an illicit relationship”.

The Taliban Supreme Court said on Thursday (5 February) that based on the ruling of the group’s primary court in Zari district of Balkh province, a woman was sentenced to and punished with 35 lashes.

The court said in a statement that the sentence was carried out after being approved by senior officials of the Taliban Supreme Court.

The statement said the punishment was carried out in the presence of the police commander, the head of intelligence, the deputy district governor, and a number of local residents.

Since returning to power in Afghanistan, the Taliban have widely implemented corporal punishments, including public flogging. International human rights organisations have repeatedly condemned these punishments, but the Taliban continue to enforce them based on their own interpretation of Sharia.