Atiqullah Darwish, the Chief of the Criminal Division of the Taliban’s Supreme Court, has announced that since the group’s return to power in Afghanistan, five executions have been carried out.

Darwish further disclosed that approximately 30 additional death sentences are awaiting final approval from the Taliban leader.

Speaking at an event titled “Coordination Among Government Institutions to Prevent Criminal Offences” in Panjshir, Darwish stated that “these sentences have been executed in accordance with Sharia law, with the aim of establishing justice and deterring crime.” He highlighted that around 30 additional retributive justice (Qisas) sentences have been issued by various courts and will be enacted upon approval from the Taliban’s Supreme Leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.

The judicial system under the Taliban predominantly operates based on a strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia and customary laws, diverging significantly from international human rights standards and civil laws. Numerous human rights organisations have expressed concerns over a lack of transparency in Taliban trials, the denial of legal representation for defendants, and the expedited and often compulsory nature of these judicial proceedings.

Reports indicate that defendants in Taliban courts are occasionally convicted without access to defence counsel and, at times, without adequate evidence. Severe penalties, including flogging, amputation, and execution, have also been administered by these courts.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported on Thursday that at least 111 individuals, including 16 women, were subjected to corporal punishment in Afghanistan over the past three months. UNAMA stated that the Taliban had carried out floggings of these individuals, sometimes individually and occasionally in groups, in response to various charges.