The Taliban's Supreme Court has announced the public flogging of a man in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, for selling alcohol and illegal pills.

In a statement released on Thursday, August 15, the court confirmed that the punishment was administered on Wednesday, August 14, at a sports stadium in Mazar-e-Sharif. The man, whose identity was not disclosed, received 39 lashes as part of his sentence.

The court's statement did not provide details regarding the legal proceedings, including whether the accused had access to legal representation or under what conditions he was tried.

The Taliban have strictly prohibited the production, sale, and consumption of all drugs in Afghanistan, and have carried out similar public punishments in various provinces for alcohol-related offences.