Taliban Publicly Flogs 17 People in Khost

The Taliban's Supreme Court has announced that it has flogged 17 people in public in Khost province on various charges.

The court said that the individuals received between 25 and 39 lashes. They were also sentenced to prison terms ranging from six months to one year and five months.

The Taliban's Supreme Court announced in a statement on Wednesday evening, October 23, that seven people have been convicted of extramarital affairs and 10 others have been punished on charges of theft and same-sex relations, in public and in the presence of court officials and clients.

Earlier, on Thursday, October 17, the Taliban's Supreme Court had announced the flogging of eight people in Khost province. The court announced that each of the eight individuals in Khost province was sentenced to 35 lashes in public and sentenced to one year in prison. The eighth individual was also sentenced to 39 lashes and two years in prison.

Despite the objections of international human rights organisations, the Taliban has continued to inflict corporal punishment and torture on defendants in public. The group's Supreme Court publishes daily reports of public punishment across Afghanistan.

International human rights organisations have criticised the process of trying individuals by the Taliban's courts and expressed concern about the defendants' lack of access to a lawyer and a fair trial.