Taliban Flog 6 People, Including 2 Women, In Samangan and Balkh

The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Taliban authorities have publicly flogged six individuals, including two women, in northern Afghanistan, according to statements from the Taliban’s Supreme Court.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, April 1, 2026, the court said four people, including two women, were punished in Hazrat Sultan district of Samangan province on charges of “running away from home” and adultery. Each was sentenced to 39 lashes following a ruling by a primary court, which was later upheld by the Taliban’s Supreme Court.
In a separate statement, the court said two other individuals were punished in Shortepa district of Balkh province on charges of same-sex relations. They were sentenced to two years in prison and between 30 to 39 lashes, which were carried out after final approval by the Taliban’s Supreme Court.
From Afghanistan’s perspective, the continuation of corporal punishment in public spaces reflects ongoing legal and human rights concerns, particularly as such practices remain widely criticized by international human rights organizations as inconsistent with global human rights standards.
Taliban authorities have carried out similar punishments multiple times over the past four years, drawing repeated criticism from rights groups.