Afghanistan Peace CampaignUNAMA condemned this act and called for respect for international human rights commitments in Afghanistan.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, told TOLOnews that the implementation of Sharia punishments is based on court decisions and that international organizations should not speak against Islamic laws.
Mujahid said: “The concern is unnecessary. The punishments that are implemented are based on court rulings and are in accordance with Islamic Sharia, which the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is obligated to implement in society. Society also demands punishments for criminals.”
Earlier, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Amnesty International, and the UN special rapporteur Richard Bennett criticized the implementation of corporal punishment on 63 people in Sar-e-Pul province.
These sentences were carried out by the Islamic Emirate on Tuesday in the sports stadium of Sar-e-Pul city.
UNAMA condemned this act and called for respect for international human rights commitments in Afghanistan.
UNAMA said: “63 people were publicly lashed in Saripul yesterday by Afghanistan’s de facto authorities. UNAMA reiterates its condemnation of corporal punishment and calls for respect for international human rights obligations.”
The UN special rapporteur Richard Bennett also called for the cessation of corporal punishment by the Islamic Emirate.
Richard Bennett said: “Once again I condemn the widespread flogging of men, women, children, this time in public in Sar-e-Pul & Ghor for so-called ‘moral crimes’ (adultery, elopement…) This violates Afghanistan’s obligations to prohibit torture/other forms of cruel & inhuman punishment. It needs to stop now!”
“Judges must have complete understanding and full knowledge of Islamic Sharia laws. Likewise, the cases of criminals should be thoroughly examined, and these punishments should be applied according to the needs and circumstances of the time,” said Haseebullah Hanifi, a religious scholar.
“If society feels the need, the ruler can execute flogging or corporal punishment in public. It is not against international treaties or jurisprudential texts,” Zia Yousufi, a lawyer, told TOLOnews.
Earlier, corporal punishments have also been carried out in the provinces of Panjshir, Bamyan, Logar, Farah, Laghman, Ghazni, Maidan Wardak, and Jawzjan.