UN officials demand immediate end to capital punishment under Taliban

The latest public execution carried out in a sports stadium in Gardez, Paktya province, has been seriously condemned by senior UN officials as they demand an immediate end to the use of capital punishment by the ruling Taliban government.

Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, the de facto authorities have reintroduced public executions, floggings and other forms of corporal punishment, despite repeated international appeals to uphold human rights standards in the country.

UN independent expert Richard Bennett said the recent incident represents a “clear violation of human rights” and demonstrates an alarming pattern of public punishments. In a statement on social media, he condemned the “horrific public execution”.

Need for a comprehensive human rights-centred action plan

The execution reflects a broader pattern of human rights deterioration under Taliban. The ruling government has issued numerous directives, including banning the female population of the country from most professions and prohibiting them from using parks and gyms.

The Taliban have also limited girls to primary-level education. UN officials are urging de facto authorities to establish an immediate moratorium on all executions, besides calling for respect for due process and fair trial rights, in particular access to legal representation.

In a report to the UN general assembly, Bennett highlighted that after more than three years of Taliban rule, the human rights crisis in the country continues to deepen. The international community needs to implement a comprehensive action plan, he stressed.