The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemned the Taliban’s latest public execution of Mohammad Ayaz Asad, a convicted murderer, held at a sports stadium in Paktya province. This marks the sixth public execution since the Taliban’s return to power, sparking international outrage over capital punishment practices.
In response, UNAMA called for a moratorium on all executions, emphasizing that public executions contradict Afghanistan’s human rights commitments. The organization urged the Taliban to respect fair trial standards, due process, and access to legal representation.
Asad’s execution was conducted under “qisas,” a form of retributive justice, where the victim’s family carries out the punishment. Taliban Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada signed the decree, with Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani attending the event alongside thousands of spectators.
Public executions, floggings, and corporal punishments were common under the Taliban’s rule from 1996 to 2001. Since regaining control in 2021, the Taliban has reinstated these practices, arguing they serve as crime deterrents under Islamic law, despite international condemnation.
UN and human rights groups denounce these punishments as inhumane. Roza Otunbayeva, UNAMA’s Special Representative, urged the Taliban to prioritize citizens’ rights. However, some locals support qisas, considering it aligned with their beliefs and the “order of God.”
