Afghan Taliban officials carry out public execution of man for murder

A man sentenced for murder was executed publicly at a stadium in eastern Afghanistan, according to eyewitnesses who spoke to AFP on Tuesday. The UN human rights observer condemned the punishment as "inhumane." This execution marks the 12th public execution since the Taliban regained control in 2021, according to AFP records.

The executed man, named Mangal, was killed before a large crowd in Khost, the Supreme Court confirmed in a statement. Witnesses reported that he was shot three times by a relative of the victim, with thousands of people observing the event. The court said he had been given a "retaliatory punishment" for killing another man, after his case underwent "careful and repeated examination." "The victims' families were offered the chance for amnesty and reconciliation, but they declined," the statement added.

Some locals viewed the execution as a deterrent. "These actions could discourage future killings," said Mujib Rahman Rahmani, who attended the event in Khost. Authorities had encouraged public attendance through notices released widely on Monday. Reports indicate Mangal was involved in a January 2025 attack on a house that left 10 people dead, including three women.

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, condemned the act before it occurred, describing public executions as "inhumane, cruel, and unusual punishments, contrary to international law." He called on the Taliban to halt such practices.

Public executions were frequent during the Talibans first rule from 1996 to 2001, often held in sports stadiums. The previous public execution, the 11th since 2021, took place in Badghis in October, witnessed by thousands, including Taliban officials. In April, four men were executed across three provinces on a single day.

The Taliban also continue to use corporal punishment, including flogging, for crimes such as theft, adultery, and alcohol consumption. Execution orders are signed by the movements secretive leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, based in Kandahar. Maintaining law and order is a core part of the Talibans ideology, rooted in the instability following the Soviet withdrawal in 1989.

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have condemned both corporal and capital punishments under the Taliban. Amnestys April annual report highlighted that Afghanistan continues to impose death sentences after trials that "do not meet international fair trial standards."

Author: Sophia Brooks