Taliban Court in Kabul Sentences 21 to Prison and Flogging for Drug and Alcohol Offenses
The Supreme Court under Taliban administration announced that 21 individuals have been sentenced by the Primary Court for Combating Narcotics and Intoxicants in Kabul province to punitive punishments. According to the statement from this institution, these individuals were found guilty of selling and trafficking narcotics and alcoholic beverages.
The statement noted that the accused were arrested and tried for selling and trafficking narcotic tablets (Zykep and ‘Ka’ tablets), crystal meth, heroin, opium, hashish, as well as alcoholic drinks.
According to the information released, the Primary Court sentenced these individuals to prison terms ranging from seven months to four years and three months. In addition, each of the defendants received between 10 and 39 lashes as a punitive corporal punishment.
The enforcement of corporal punishments continues under the Taliban administration, despite previous repeated concerns expressed by human rights organizations condemning flogging and other corporal penalties as contrary to Afghanistan’s international human rights commitments. Nevertheless, the Taliban administration emphasizes that these rulings are issued and enforced based on its interpretation of Sharia law.
