The Taliban has confirmed that an Afghan man convicted of murder was publicly executed on Wednesday, 7 December 2020. This was the first of such a sentence since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan.
According to a statement released by the group, the executed man was identified as Tajmir, son of Ghulam Sarwar. The statement highlighted that Tajmir was a resident of the Anjali district in Herat province.
It further elaborated that Tajmir murdered a man before stealing his motorcycle and cellphone. The executed man was allegedly recognised by the deceased’s heirs, the statement added, pointing out that Tajmir admitted his guilt.
In November 2022, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada officially ordered judges to fully enforce aspects of Islamic law. These aspects include not only public executions but also floggings, stonings and the amputation of limbs from thieves.
While several public floggings have taken place since then, Wednesday’s execution is the first one that the Taliban have acknowledged.
In a statement, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid explained that the supreme court was instructed to implement this order of qisas in a public gathering of compatriots, referring to the “eye for an eye” justice in Islamic law.
According to Mujahid, the Afghan man was executed by his victim’s father, who shot him three times with a Kalashnikov (AK47).
Reflecting on the matter, Stephanie Tremblay the United Nations (UN) Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said the UN has expressed concerns about the public execution.
“Our position has never changed. The United Nations is against the death penalty, and it’s a position that the death penalty cannot be reconciled with full respect for the right to life. And so, we call for a moratorium… for a return to the moratorium on the death penalty in the country (Afghanistan),” declared Tremblay.
With the Taliban carrying out its first official public execution, what are your thoughts on the above-mentioned?
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