Over 200 women publicly flogged in Afghanistan for "moral crimes"

One of the Taliban's victims in Afghanistan. Photo: Rad Radan

According to data published by the Afghan news agency Zan Times, since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, more than 1,000 people in Afghanistan have been publicly flogged, including at least 200 women.

Executions, imprisonment without trial, and state-sanctioned humiliation have become a commonplace in Afghanistan. Experts suggest that the real numbers are significantly higher.

The so-called "moral crimes" for which women are punished include leaving home without the accompaniment of a close male relative (mahram), being seen alone in public or speaking to unrelated men.

Three women who were subjected to public flogging shared their experiences of the cruel treatment they endured.

Deeba, a 38-year-old seamstress who supports seven children while her husband works in Iran, was arrested twice. The second time was when she was charging her phone in a café. She was sentenced to 25 lashes for appearing without a mahram.

"They took me to a public place, covered my head, and whipped me in front of everyone," Deeba recounted.

Sahar, 22, was arrested when her cousin was driving her to a clinic. Despite testimonies from her relatives, the Taliban refused to recognize their kinship and forced her to falsely confess to inappropriate relations with her cousin. She was sentenced to 30 lashes, while her cousin received 70.

"They used loudspeakers to announce our punishment. My little sister was there. She used to say I was her role model. I saw her crying in the crowd. That broke me," Sahar shared.

Karima, 18, recounted that in 2023, when she was 16, she was arrested along with her cousin while they were buying sewing supplies for her mother. After two months of imprisonment, she was publicly flogged with 39 lashes, and her cousin with 50.

After their release, all the women were forced to leave their home villages due to the shame and condemnation from their communities.

According to the latest UN reports, the Taliban continues to tighten restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan, banning them from receiving education beyond primary school, working in most sectors, and appearing in public places without a mahram. International human rights organizations, including the UN and Amnesty International, condemn these punishments as violations of the absolute prohibition on torture and cruel treatment under international law.

At the same time, it became known that the Taliban has been removed from Russia's list of terrorist organizations.

Earlier, it was reported that the Taliban beheaded a volleyball player for appearing in public without a hijab.

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