A shocking public execution unfolded in Khost, Afghanistan, where a man accused of murdering 13 people was put to death before an estimated 80,000 onlookers. The Taliban administration carried out the sentence in the provincial sports stadium, marking the 11th execution under their rule since their return to power.
The convicted murderer, identified as Abdul Rahman, had been found guilty of killing an entire family. In a move that underscores the Taliban’s unique application of Sharia law, the right to enact retribution, known as ‘Qisas’, was given to a 13-year-old boy, a close relative of the deceased. After the boy declined to pardon the convict, he was handed a firearm and executed the sentence himself.
This event occurs amidst the Taliban’s ongoing reassertion of strict Islamic law, which has coincided with significant international condemnation for measures like the prohibition of girls’ and women’s access to education. The Taliban’s Supreme Court noted that the sons of the executed man were also implicated and convicted in the case. Their executions are postponed as some victims’ heirs are currently residing overseas, awaiting their return to fulfill the retaliatory justice.
Reports from Afghan media indicate a vast crowd, comprising both citizens and Taliban officials, witnessed the proceedings. Medical personnel confirmed the accused was fit for execution before the boy, acting as the primary complainant, carried out the fatal act. Some residents of Khost expressed their approval, asserting that the perpetrator’s heinous acts, including the targeting of women and children, justified the severe punishment.