The Taliban announced Saturday that they publicly punished a woman and man for “illicit relations” in Jawzjan province.
The individuals were sentenced to six months to one year imprisonment and 15 lashes each by the primary court of Aqcha district.
The Taliban court stated that the sentences were carried out after approval from the Taliban Supreme Court chief.
Over the past four years, the Taliban have punished hundreds for alleged illicit relations and have begun implementing capital punishment through public executions.
Human rights organizations have condemned public punishments as violations of human dignity and fundamental human rights values.
Observers believe the Taliban are gradually returning to their governance policies from the 1990s, when public executions in sports stadiums symbolized their violent rule.
