The Taliban government in Taliban government on Wednesday October 15th carried out a public execution of a man convicted of committing a double murder, in what marks one of the group’s most high-profile enforcement of Islamic law since reclaiming power in 2021.
According to a statement released by the Taliban’s Supreme Court, the execution took place in Ghazni province and was attended by senior government officials, clerics, and members of the victim’s families. The court said the man had “confessed” to killing two individuals during a robbery, and the sentence was approved by the country’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, after a multi-tiered judicial process.
Thousands of spectators reportedly gathered in a sports stadium to witness the execution, reflecting the Taliban’s return to public punishments as a tool of social control and deterrence. International human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, swiftly condemned the execution, calling it a “barbaric display of cruelty” that violates international law and basic human dignity.
The Taliban, however, defended its actions as being consistent with Islamic jurisprudence and Afghan tradition. The group’s officials maintained that public justice “ensures peace and fairness” in society, even as the international community continues to withhold formal recognition of their government over such policies.
This latest incident underscores growing concerns about Afghanistan’s human rights situation, especially the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Sharia law and ongoing repression of women, minorities, and dissenters.
