The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has condemned the Taliban’s latest public execution of a convicted murderer, which took place at a sports stadium in eastern Afghanistan’s Paktya province on Wednesday. The execution marks the sixth known public execution since the Taliban’s return to power, reigniting international outrage over the group’s use of capital punishment and corporal punishment, which UNAMA describes as a “clear violation” of Afghanistan’s international human rights obligations.

UNAMA issued a statement calling for an immediate moratorium on all executions, emphasizing that public displays of capital punishment are inconsistent with Afghanistan’s human rights commitments. UNAMA urged authorities to respect due process, uphold fair trial standards, and ensure access to legal representation for all individuals accused of crimes.

The man executed today, Mohammad Ayaz Asad, was convicted of killing a fellow villager in Paktya province. The execution was carried out under the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic law, known as qisas or retributive justice, in which punishment is delivered by a member of the victim’s family. In this instance, Asad was shot in front of thousands of spectators, following a decree signed by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, with prominent officials, including Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, attending the event.

Public executions, floggings, and corporal punishment were hallmark practices of the Taliban during their first rule from 1996 to 2001. Since regaining power in August 2021, the Taliban have resumed similar practices, implementing a strict interpretation of Islamic law. In November 2022, Akhundzada mandated that Taliban judges fully enforce hudud and qisas punishments, including public floggings, executions, and amputations. The Taliban argue that qisas serves as a deterrent against serious crimes like murder and that the punishment is aligned with Islamic principles.

The UN and numerous human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned these punishments as brutal and inhumane. UN officials stress that the Taliban’s policies are exacerbating the nation’s human rights crisis. “The de facto authorities must prioritize the people’s needs over oppressive laws,” stated Roza Otunbayeva, UNAMA’s Special Representative.

Despite international condemnation, Taliban leaders continue to defend their policies. Sayedulluh, a witness at today’s execution, expressed support for the punishment, saying, “Qisas is the order of God… now thankfully, it’s an Islamic system.”

As calls for international action intensify, UNAMA’s appeal underscores the urgency for the Taliban to halt public executions and adhere to global human rights standards.