Taliban Administers Public Flogging of 34 People in Khost

The Taliban administration in Afghanistan’s Khost province has announced that on Sunday, December 6, it publicly carried out flogging sentences against 34 individuals. According to Taliban officials, the individuals were arrested on charges of drug trafficking and forgery, and were sentenced by a Taliban court to receive between 10 to 39 lashes.

A statement issued by the Taliban Supreme Court also indicated that, in addition to the flogging, each of the individuals was sentenced to between one and seven years of imprisonment. The punishments were carried out in the presence of local Taliban officials and a group of Khost residents.

Since the Taliban regained power, public punishments—such as floggings and executions—have become a routine part of the group’s judicial policies. Human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned these practices, calling them blatant violations of human dignity and inconsistent with modern legal standards.

Some Khost residents told local media that the forced public attendance at such events has increased fear and distrust within the community. Observers argue that the continuation of such punishments without transparent legal proceedings raises serious concerns about the Taliban’s judicial practices.