“We are additionally raising doubts about the fairness of the trials preceding these punishments, which usually appear not to satisfy simple fair trial guarantees, ” their statement continued. Last week, Taliban authorities carried out what is considered to be the first public execution simply because they seized power in August 2021.
Women overwhelmingly targeted
The EL human rights office, OHCHR , referred to it as a “deeply disturbing” development. Senior Taliban officials, including the Deputy Prime Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) and Chief Justice, had been in attendance. The particular 10 experts who issued the statement were hired by the UN Human Rights Council , which is based in Geneva. “While criminalisation of relationships beyond wedlock seem gender-neutral, in practice, punishment is overwhelmingly focused against women and girls, ” said the experts.
Officials witness execution
“We contact the sobre facto regulators to immediately establish a moratorium on the death penalty, stop flogging and other physical punishments that constitute torture, or even other cruel, inhuman or even degrading treatment or abuse and assure a fair trial and because of process according to international standards, ” professionals said in a statement . The man offer death had been charged with murder, and was shot by the father of his victim, according to media reports. Experts appointed by the Council are independent associated with any government or corporation, work on a voluntary schedule, and operate in their individual capacity. “The public vision of these punishments make them especially distasteful and undignified, ” they additional. The EL experts said public floggings and executions began following the Supreme Leader on 13 November ordered the judiciary to implement Hudood (crimes against God) and Qisas (retribution in kind) punishments.
‘Distasteful and undignified’
These punishments started after Taliban Supreme Innovator Haibatullah Akhundzada last month ordered judges to support aspects of Islamic law. The floggings happened in stadiums in the existence of Taliban officials and the public. “International human rights regulation prohibits the implementation of such cruel sentences, specifically the death penalty, subsequent trials that apparently do not offer the required fair trial guarantees, ” they said.
Fair trial doubts
They are not UN staff and are not paid for their work. Every person received between 20 plus 100 lashes for supposed crimes such as theft, “illegitimate” relationships, or violating interpersonal behaviour codes. The experts recalled that Afghanistan is a party to a UN covenant that prohibits pain, or other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment
About UN experts
Among them are several Special Rapporteurs, whose mandates cover the problem of human rights in Afghanistan, or issues such as discrimination against women and ladies. “Public floggings and public executions violate universal principles prohibiting torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment., ” they stated. The execution took place on 7 December in the crowded stadium in Farah province, located in southwestern Afghanistan. Since 18 November, more than hundred men and women have reportedly already been publicly whipped in several Afghan provinces, including Takhar, Logar, Laghman, Parwan and Kabul.
