Taliban flog 12 for ‘moral crimes’ including adultery, gay sex before hundreds of onlookers

The Taliban, an ultra-conservative ruling dispensation in Afghanistan, flogged 12 people in a football stadium for committing “moral crimes” like adultery, robbery, and homosexual sex, which is considered a sin and is punishable under Sharia law.

The punishment was carried out in full public glare, with throngs of people occupying seats in the stadium in the country’s Logar region to witness it

While a few accused were allowed to return home after receiving the punishment, the rest were sent to prison.

The Taliban lashed the men and women with around 21-39 strikes each. According to the hardline Islamist group, the maximum number of lashes a person can receive is 39, the report said, citing a Taliban official.

When the Taliban seized power last year in August, they had promised to be more moderate and show leniency toward women and their way of ruling. However, now it appears to be hogwash.

Earlier, women in Afghanistan were stopped from entering amusement parks in Kabul after the Taliban’s morality ministry said there would be restrictions on women accessing public parks.

A spokesperson for the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (MPVPV) had said that women would be restricted from entering parks.

The Taliban say that they respect women’s rights in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law.