Baharan Flame

Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, one of the harshest forms of punishment has resurfaced: public flogging. While the Taliban justify these acts as “implementation of Sharia,” human rights organizations and the United Nations affirm that they constitute torture and a blatant violation of fundamental human rights.

Public floggings are commonly carried out in sports stadiums, government courtyards, and even inside mosques, where residents are forced to attend. This forced presence aims to create an atmosphere of intimidation and fear.

These punishments are typically imposed after rulings issued by Taliban-run courts—courts that lack credible evidence, due process, or the right to defense. Many individuals are convicted based on coerced confessions or minor family complaints.

Unlike international legal standards, trials are held quickly and without any formal legal safeguards, leading to the punishment of numerous individuals for unclear reasons or without adequate evidence.

Acts that can lead to flogging include:

• Communication with non-mahrams
• A girl fleeing her home
• Going out without a male guardian
• Consuming alcohol
• Extramarital relationships
• Theft

Many of these actions are not crimes under international law, but the Taliban classify them as “Sharia offences.” Women are the most affected, as Afghan society attaches extreme sensitivity to women’s social standing, making public punishment especially devastating for them.

Reports from media outlets and rights organizations show that women across provinces such as Faryab, Badghis, Takhar, Ghazni, Herat, Kabul, Bamyan, Ghor, and others have been publicly flogged for talking to non-mahrams, escaping domestic violence, or going out without a guardian.

Some of these women reported being expelled from their families following the punishment, or facing severe stigma and ongoing social blame. Beyond the physical harm, the psychological impact is profound—chronic fear, depression, nightmares, and loss of self-confidence.

International organizations, including the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International, have documented dozens of flogging cases, while noting that the actual numbers are far higher. Many incidents occur in remote areas, where residents fear reporting abuses. Strict restrictions on the media, the absence of independent journalism, and a climate of repression make documentation extremely difficult. As a result, available statistics remain mere figures on paper, without any meaningful legal action.

Religious scholars and experts emphasize that the application of Islamic hudud punishments requires strict and precise conditions: credible witnesses, fair judicial procedures, and full rights of defense for the accused. None of these conditions exist under the Taliban’s judicial system. This transforms flogging from a religious ruling with procedural safeguards into a tool of social domination and political display.

These practices have deeply affected society—spreading fear, restricting individual freedoms, intensifying pressure on women, and weakening the last remnants of the legal system. Citizens feel unprotected, vulnerable to public humiliation at any moment due to a simple accusation or minor complaint, reinforcing widespread insecurity and anxiety.

Overall, public floggings under Taliban rule have escalated violence, fear, and mistrust within society, inflicting severe physical, psychological, and social harm, especially on women. The continuation of these practices highlights the extremely dangerous human rights situation in Afghanistan—a crisis demanding urgent intervention from the international community and human rights organizations.

Unless these brutal punishments come to an end and a fair judicial system is established, Afghan citizens—particularly women—will remain exposed to fear, abuse, and injustice. This reality calls for immediate action from local, regional, and international entities to halt the suffering and curb the rise of repression.