Ghazni, Afghanistan – Two men have been sentenced to death in Afghanistan for charges of murder and were executed in front of a large crowd at a sports stadium in Ghazni, a city located in the southeast of the country. The execution, which took place south of Kabul, was attended by thousands of spectators, including senior Taliban officials, according to reports from human rights organization Amnesty International.
The men, who were believed to be responsible for two fatal stabbings, were shot dead by relatives of the victims. The Afghan news agency “Khamaa Press” stated that the execution of the sentences was carried out following the approval of Hibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of Afghanistan and head of the Taliban.
Public executions had resumed in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained power in 2021. The last known public execution occurred in the province of Farah last December. Under Akhundzada’s directives, judges are required to enforce all aspects of sharia (Islamic law), which includes public executions for murder, and corporal punishments like stoning and flogging.
The use of public executions by the Taliban has raised concerns among human rights organizations and the international community. Critics argue that such executions violate human rights and are not in line with international standards of justice.
The executions in Afghanistan mark a concerning trend towards increased use of capital punishment in the country since the Taliban’s resurgence. The imposition of strict interpretations of Islamic law by the Taliban has led to a crackdown on perceived violations, with public executions being used as a form of deterrence.
The international community continues to monitor the situation in Afghanistan closely, urging the Taliban to respect human rights and adhere to international legal standards. The use of public executions as a method of justice remains a contentious issue, drawing condemnation from various human rights groups worldwide.