Capital punishment in Afghanistan explained

Capital punishment in Afghanistan is legal and could be carried out secretly or publicly.^[1] The convict could be hanged or shot to death. Stoning, amputation, and flogging were also sometimes used as a method for punishment, especially during the late 1990s.^{[2] [3]} Public executions have existed throughout Afghanistan's history. They have continued with the Taliban returning to power in August 2021. Some executions were recently condemned by the United Nations.^[4] The capital offenses in Afghanistan generally include heinous crimes such as mass murder and are governed by Sharia, along with civil laws.^[5]

Capital offences

The capital offences include the serious crimes and are governed by Sharia laws, along with civil laws. The capital offences includes:^[6]

• Adultery
• Fornication
• Murder
• Apostasy
• Arson
• Blasphemy
• Homosexual intercourse
• Espionage
• Perjury
• Terrorism

Notable executions

• April 2004 – Abdullah Shah was executed by shooting inside Pul-e-Charkhi prison outside Kabul.^[7]
• October 2007 – Fifteen prisoners were executed by shooting inside Pul-e-Charkhi prison, including Reza Khan.^[8]
• June 2011 – Two mass killers were executed by hanging in Pul-e-Charkhi prison. One of the killers was Zar Ajam,^[9] a 17-year-old from Waziristan, Pakistan, who had randomly shot dead 40 people inside a branch of New Kabul Bank in Jalalabad.^{[10] [11]}
• November 2012 – Fourteen prisoners were hanged inside Pul-e-Charkhi prison.^{[12] [13]}
• October 2014 – Five men were executed by hanging inside Pul-e-Charkhi prison. The men were accused of robbery and gang rapes.^{[14] [15]}
• May 2016 – Six men were executed by hanging inside Pul-e-Charkhi prison on charges of terrorism.^{[16] [17]}
• December 2022 – One man who had confessed to murder was executed in public at a crowded sports stadium in Farah Province.^{[18] [19]} This is the first instance of public execution since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.^[4]
• 22 February 2024 – Two men were executed for separate murders after being shot by relatives of their victims at stadium in Ghazni.^[20]

See also

• Judicial corporal punishment in Afghanistan
• List of prisons in Afghanistan
• Capital punishment by country

Notes and References

1. Web site: Afghan Lives Matter, stop the death penalty. 2021-08-19. EEAS - European External Action Service - European Commission. en.
2. Web site: 2013-11-26. Afghanistan: Reject stoning, flogging, amputation and other Taliban-era punishments. 2021-08-19. Amnesty International. en.
3. Web site: Taliban hang dead bodies from cranes in city squares. 26 September 2021 .
4. News: 16 December 2022 . Afghanistan: UN experts call on the Taliban to immediately halt public floggings and executions . . 10 April 2023.
5. Web site: Death Penalty Worldwide . deathpenaltyworldwide.org . 12 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130604083731/https://deathpenaltyworldwide.org/country-search-post.cfm?country=Afghanistan . 4 June 2013 . dead.
6. Web site: Death Penalty Worldwide . deathpenaltyworldwide.org . 12 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130604083731/https://deathpenaltyworldwide.org/country-search-post.cfm?country=Afghanistan . 4 June 2013 . dead.
7. News: Former Afghan commander executed . BBC News . 2007-04-27 . 2014-10-08.
8. News: Afghanistan executes 15 prisoners by gunfire . Associated Press . October 9, 2007 . October 9, 2011.
9. News: Kabul Bank attackers sentenced to death . Pajhwok Afghan News . June 14, 2011 . 2023-05-09.
10. News: How the Taliban Turned a Child Into a Suicide Bomber . Nick . Schifrin . ABC News . June 21, 2011 . October 15, 2011.
11. Web site: Two mass killers hanged in Kabul prison . Upi.com . 2011-06-21 . 2014-02-23.
12. Web site: Afghanistan executes eight prisoners: officials . English.ahram.org.eg . 2012-11-20 . 2014-02-23.
13. Web site: Afghanistan hangs 'terrorists' . News.iafrica.com . 2012-11-21 . 2014-02-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141013192302/http://news.iafrica.com/worldnews/828701.html . 2014-10-13 . dead .
14. News: Afghanistan executes 5 in gang rape case that galvanized country . foxnews.com. 2014-10-08 . 2014-10-08.
15. News: UPDATE 1-Afghanistan hangs five men over gang rape, despite concerns of rights groups . reuters.com . 2014-10-08 . 2014-10-08.
16. News: UNAMA regrets execution of 6 terrorists by Afghan government . Ariana News . May 9, 2016 . 2023-05-09.
17. Web site: 2016-05-08. Afghanistan executes six Taliban prisoners. 2021-08-19. the Guardian. en.
18. News: Facing Intl Condemnation, Islamic Emirate Defends Sharia Executions . TOLOnews . December 8, 2022 . 2023-05-09.
19. News: Murphy . Matt . Taliban conduct first public execution since return to power. BBC News . 7 December 2022.
20. News: Taliban hold public execution for 2 men, who are killed by gunfire in a stadium as thousands watch . Associated Press . 23 February 2024 . 23 February 2024.