The United Nations has condemned the Taliban’s increasing use of judicially-sanctioned corporal punishment in Afghanistan, highlighting that these practices violate international human rights laws. In a statement released on March 7, 2026, UN experts emphasized that such punishments, often inflicted publicly for alleged moral crimes, are an affront to human dignity and can amount to torture.
According to the experts, the year 2025 marked a significant escalation in the frequency of public floggings. The Taliban’s de facto Supreme Court reported that at least 1,110 individuals were subjected to public floggings, nearly doubling the number from the previous year when at least 567 individuals faced similar punishment. The breakdown of those punished in 2025 included approximately 940 men and 170 women.
Escalating Rates of Punishment
Indicators for 2026 suggest that the trend may continue, with January alone witnessing the public flogging of 147 men and 15 women, one of the highest monthly totals since the Taliban officially reinstated the practice in late 2022. The majority of these punishments are meted out to men accused of crimes such as theft and drug-related offenses. However, women, girls, and those from the LGBT+ community are at greater risk for punishments related to so-called “moral” crimes, including adultery and “illicit relationships.”
The experts argued that the enforcement of corporal punishment for moral crimes reflects a broader system of gender-based discrimination and control that contradicts Afghanistan’s international commitments. They noted the troubling lack of official records regarding the ages and mental capacities of those punished, and highlighted instances of children being subjected to flogging.
The corporal punishment typically involves a sentence of 39 lashes and is often accompanied by imprisonment. Taliban officials carry out these floggings in public, compelling local residents, including children, to witness the acts.
Concerns Over Judicial Independence
The UN experts expressed outrage that such sentences are imposed within a judicial framework that lacks independence and due process. They warned that the “criminal rules of courts” introduced in January 2026 could further facilitate the use of these punishments, which are already illegal under international law.
Additionally, the experts condemned the Taliban’s execution of 12 men following their return to power, calling for an immediate moratorium and a re-evaluation of the death penalty in accordance with international standards. Afghanistan is a signatory to both the Convention against Torture and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which prohibit practices that amount to corporal punishment.
“The de facto authorities are bound by Afghanistan’s obligations under those treaties,” the experts stated. They stressed that punishments executed without due process cannot be considered justice and urged the international community to take a stronger stance regarding the ongoing human rights crisis in Afghanistan. This includes demanding guarantees for due process and advocating for a moratorium on corporal and capital punishment, with the ultimate goal of their abolition.
