Mass floggings of Men and Women in Afghanistan Continues

World News

Mass floggings of Men and Women in Afghanistan Continues

June 6, 2024

On 4 June, a group of 63 men and women were publicly subjected to mass flogging at a sports ground in the city of Sar-e-pul

Geneva

A spokesperson for the UN human rights office (OHCHR) on Wednesday said he was “deeply disturbed” over the widespread and continued use of corporal punishment in Afghanistan.

Jeremy Laurence described how on 4 June, a group of 63 men and women were publicly subjected to mass flogging at a sports ground in the city of Sar-e-pul for a range of alleged crimes including “running away from home” and “moral crimes”.

Close to 50 men and 15 women were reportedly lashed between 15 and 39 times before being returned to prison to complete their sentences. The punishment was reportedly carried out in front of members of Taliban authorities and hundreds of local residents, Mr. Laurence said.

Clear violations

“Corporal punishment is a clear violation of international human rights law” and Afghanistan is party to both the Convention against Torture and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, he added.

“Under international law, all people have the right to be treated with respect for their inherent human dignity and equality.”

He urged Taliban authorities to immediately cease all forms of corporal punishment and to ensure full respect for due process and fair trial procedures, “in particular access to legal representation, for anyone facing criminal charges.”