The Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, marked the beginning of a new era of fundamentalist rule. With Western forces hastily withdrawing, the militant group swiftly reinstated its strict interpretation of Sharia law, bringing back brutal punishments that had characterized its rule in the 1990s.
Public Executions and Harsh Punishments
One of the most alarming aspects of Taliban rule has been the resurgence of public executions. These executions serve as deliberate spectacles, reinforcing the regime’s grip on power and instilling fear among the populace.
In November 2023, a man convicted of murder was publicly executed in a sports stadium in Gardez. The execution was carried out under the practice of ‘qisas’—a retributive justice system allowing victims’ families to exact revenge.
The Taliban has also reintroduced punishments such as stoning, flogging, and burying individuals under a wall. In February 2023, two people accused of adultery were stoned to death in Badakhshan province.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has raised concerns about the lack of due process in these cases, warning that many accused may not even be guilty of the crimes for which they are punished.
A History of Brutality
The Taliban first rose to power in the 1990s after years of civil war left Afghanistan in turmoil. While some Afghans initially saw the Taliban as a stabilizing force, their strict and violent rule quickly overshadowed any hopes for progress.
Under Taliban rule, women lost many of their rights, and minority groups faced severe persecution.
Same-sex relationships have remained punishable by severe sentences, including stoning or execution by having a wall collapsed on the accused. Despite occasional attempts to moderate its image, the Taliban’s brutal punishments have continued unabated.
Systemic Oppression of Women
When the Taliban first came to power, women’s rights were among the first casualties. Schools were shut down for girls, and women were banned from working. After the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, restrictions tightened even further, and any hopes of restoring rights for women quickly faded.
Although girls under 12 can still attend school, the number of those being deliberately denied education has skyrocketed in recent years, according to UNESCO.
Continued Executions and Global Condemnation
Despite promises of a more moderate rule, the Taliban resumed public executions shortly after regaining control. A judge interviewed in 2021 openly spoke about amputations, stonings, and other extreme punishments, reinforcing the group’s commitment to its harsh interpretation of justice.
Recent executions have drawn international condemnation. In February 2024, a man convicted of murder was publicly executed in the northern city of Shibirghan before thousands of spectators. The brother of the victim carried out the execution, shooting the convict five times with a rifle.
Similar executions occurred in Ghazni province, where two men convicted of murder were shot to death by the victims’ relatives in a packed sports stadium. Amnesty International has denounced these acts as grave violations of human rights and international legal standards.
The Future of Afghanistan Under Taliban Rule
The Taliban’s grip on Afghanistan remains unrelenting. While some Afghans acknowledge the relative stability the group has brought to the war-torn country, their rule is defined by widespread human rights abuses, suppression of women, and violent forms of justice.
Afghanistan’s long and rich history, once celebrated for its cultural and intellectual contributions, continues to be overshadowed by the Taliban’s strict governance. While some hope for reforms, there is little evidence to suggest that the Taliban will ease its brutal policies shortly.
For now, Afghanistan remains trapped under a regime that governs through fear, brutality, and systematic oppression, with little hope for change on the horizon.