In a disturbing display of justice, the Taliban conducted a double public execution at a stadium in southeastern Afghanistan. The event, which took place on Thursday, drew thousands of spectators as two convicted men were put to death by gunfire from the victims' own relatives.
The Taliban's Supreme Court had determined that the two men, identified as Syed Jamal and Gul Khan, were responsible for the stabbing deaths of two individuals in separate incidents. While it remained unclear whether the convicted men themselves carried out the stabbings, the court's ruling led to their execution.
According to reports, three lower courts and the Taliban's supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, had ordered the executions as retribution for the alleged crimes committed by the men. Despite pleas from religious scholars and onlookers, the victims' families chose not to forgive the convicts.
The public execution took place at a stadium in the Ali Lala area of Ghazni, where a large crowd had gathered to witness the event. The victims' relatives were tasked with carrying out the executions, with a total of 15 bullets fired – eight at one man and seven at the other. Following the shootings, ambulances arrived to remove the bodies.
These executions mark the third and fourth public killings since the Taliban seized power in 2021 amid the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan. The United Nations has strongly condemned the Taliban's use of public executions, lashings, and stonings, urging the rulers to cease such practices.
During their previous rule in the late 1990s, the Taliban was known for its brutal enforcement of public punishments, including executions, floggings, and stonings. The recent events in Ghazni serve as a stark reminder of the harsh justice system imposed by the militant group.
