Afghanistan: Taliban leader asks judges to enforce sharia law that includes public executions

Strictly apply Islamic law which includes public executions, flogging, stoning or even mutilation of members of the bandit corps, the supreme leader of the Taliban in the Afghanistan.

In a post on Twitter late yesterday (13/11) night, Zabihullah Mujahid said that this “binding” order came from the Taliban’s supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, after a meeting he had with a group of judges.

Akhundzada runs the country by decree from the Islamist stronghold of Kandahar, although he has not been photographed or filmed in public since August 2021, when the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan.

“Bell” for robbers, kidnappers and mutineers

“Carefully examine the cases of bandits, kidnappers and rebels“, the Taliban spokesman wrote, citing Akhundzada.

“These cases meet all the conditions of sharia (Islamic law) (…), which you are obliged to apply,” he explained, as reported by the Athens News Agency.

The Taliban’s supreme leader referred to the offenses which, under Islamic law, are considered more serious and for which there are various punishments, some of which are corporal. Among these offenses are adultery, alcohol consumption, robbery, rebellion.

According to Islam, in order for someone to be convicted of any of these crimes, a lot of evidence must be gathered against him. In the case of adultery, for example, a confession or the testimony of four adult Muslim men is required.

After returning to power the Taliban pledged to be more lax in the implementation of shariahowever they returned to the particularly strict version of sharia, such as that which marked their first period in power (1996-2001).

Then they publicly punished the perpetrators of robbery, kidnapping or adultery with punishments such as stoning, mutilation or whipping.

Women in particular have seen their rights violated and after fifteen months in power, the Taliban have excluded them from public life. Most have lost their jobs or receive a meager salary to stay at home. They are not allowed to travel without a male guardian and are required to cover their face and body completely when outside their homes.