In a chilling display of justice, the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan publicly executed a man accused of a brutal mass murder. The event, held in Khost’s central sports stadium, drew an estimated 80,000 spectators. This marks the 11th such execution since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
The convicted individual, Abdul Rahman, was found guilty of murdering 13 members of a family. In a striking turn of events, the responsibility for carrying out the execution was handed to a 13-year-old boy, a young relative of the victims. After being asked if he was ready to pardon the accused, the boy refused. He was then given a weapon and proceeded to fire the fatal shots, enacting what is described as ‘Qisas’ or retaliatory justice under Sharia law.
The public execution underscores the Taliban regime’s continued adherence to strict interpretations of Sharia law. This includes not only public punishments but also severe restrictions, such as the widely criticized ban on education for women and girls. The Taliban Supreme Court also revealed that two sons of the executed man were convicted in the same case, but their executions are pending the return of all legal heirs from abroad.
Witnesses reported that senior Taliban officials and members of the victims’ families were present. The accused underwent medical checks before the complainant, the 13-year-old, stepped forward to carry out the punishment. Some locals in Khost expressed support for the harsh sentence, citing the brutality of the crime, which allegedly targeted women and children.