Taliban judicial authorities have confirmed the public flogging of four individuals—two in Parwan province and two in Nangarhar—on charges of engaging in extramarital relationships.
According to statements issued by the Taliban’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, April 29, each of the men and women received 39 lashes in public. In addition to corporal punishment, they were sentenced to two years in prison. The court said the punishments were carried out in Sayed Khel district of Parwan and Deh Bala district of Nangarhar.
In Parwan, a man and woman were convicted of “sexual relations outside of marriage” and received identical sentences. Similarly, in Nangarhar, local Taliban officials imposed the same punishment on another pair accused of the same offense.
These incidents follow a similar case earlier this week in Sar-e Pol province. On Monday, in Gosfandi district, a man and a woman were publicly lashed 25 and 29 times respectively, and handed prison sentences ranging from one to two years.
Despite mounting international criticism, the Taliban continues to enforce strict interpretations of Sharia law, including corporal punishments and public executions. The group has escalated such measures since reclaiming power in August 2021. The Taliban’s Supreme Court also revealed this week that four people were executed in a single day across three different cities—underscoring the regime’s unwavering commitment to its hardline judicial policies.
