Taliban urged to halt public floggings and executions — Global Issues
These punishments begin after the Taliban’s supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada last month ordered judges to uphold aspects of Islamic law.
“We call for in fact authorities immediately establish a ban on capital punishment, the prohibition of whipping and other corporal punishments constituting torture, or other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment or treatment, and ensure fair and due process in line with international standards,” the experts said in statement.
Women overwhelmingly targeted
Since November 18, more than 100 men and women have been publicly whipped in several provinces of Afghanistan, including Takhar, Logar, Laghman, Parwan and Kabul.
The beatings took place in stadiums in the presence of Taliban officials and the public.
Each was beaten between 20 and 100 lashes for alleged crimes such as theft, “illegal” relationships or violations of social codes of conduct.
“Although the criminalization of illegitimate relationships may seem gender-neutral, in reality, punishment mainly targets women and girls,” the experts said.
Officers witnessed the execution
Last week, the Taliban government carried out its first supposed public execution since they took power in August 2021.
UN human rights office, OHCHRdescribed it as a “deeply disturbing” development.
According to media reports, the executed man was charged with murder and shot dead by the victim’s father.
The execution took place on December 7 at a crowded stadium in Farah province, located in southwestern Afghanistan.
Senior Taliban officials, including the Deputy Prime Minister and Chief Justice, attended.
‘Disgusting and indecent’
UN experts say the public executions and spanking began after the Supreme Leader on November 13 ordered the judiciary to execute Hudood (crimes against God) punishments. ) and Qisas (retribution in kind).
“Openly beaten and publicly executed violate universal principles torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,” they said.
“The public spectacle of these punishments making them particularly uncomfortable and demeaning,” they added.
doubt fair trial
Experts reiterate that Afghanistan is a party a treaty of the United Nations prohibition of torture, or other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment
Their statement continued: “We are also casting doubt on the fairness of the trials before these penalties, which do not appear to meet the basic fair trial guarantees.”
“International human rights law prohibits the execution of such cruel sentences, especially the death penalty, after trials that do not appear to provide the necessary guarantees of a fair trial,” they said.
About UN experts
The 10 experts who made the statement were all appointed by the UN Dong Nhan Quyen Associationbased in Geneva.
Among them are several Special Rapporteurs, whose mandate covers the human rights situation in Afghanistan, or issues such as discrimination against women and girls.
Experts appointed by the Council are independent of any government or organization, work on a voluntary basis and act in their individual capacity.
They are not UN employees and are not paid for their work.