An Afghan man convicted of murder was publicly executed in Farah on Wednesday, the Taliban said — the first confirmation of such a sentence since the group returned to power.
Last month, Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada ordered judges to fully enforce aspects of Shariah law that include public executions, stonings and floggings, and the amputation of limbs from thieves.
They have carried out several public floggings since then, but Wednesday’s execution in Farah — the capital of the western province of the same name — is the first that the Taliban have acknowledged.
“The supreme court was instructed to implement this order of qisas in a public gathering of compatriots,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement, referring to the “eye for an eye” justice in Shariah.
The statement named the executed man as Tajmir, son of Ghulam Sarwar, and said he was a resident of Anjil district in Herat province.
It said that Tajmir had murdered a man and stolen his motorcycle and cell phone.
“Later, this person was recognised by the heirs of the deceased,” it said, adding he had admitted his guilt.
The spokesman later clarified in a tweet that the execution was carried out by the father of the victim, who shot the man three times.—AFP
