Capital punishment in Afghanistan explained

Capital punishment refers to the execution of an offender sentenced to death after conviction of a criminal offense.^[1] Capital punishment is legal in Afghanistan and can be carried out secretly or publicly due to the current governmental system.^[2] The main methods of execution employed by the Afghan government on convicts are hangings and shootings. Stoning, amputation, and flogging are also sometimes used as a method for punishment, and were especially prominent during the late 1990s.^[3] Public executions have existed throughout Afghanistan's history. The former Afghan government took important steps away from the use of the death penalty, but they have continued with the Taliban returning to power in August 2021. Some executions have been recently condemned by the United Nations. UN experts have called on Afghan authorities "to halt immediately all forms of torturous, cruel, and degrading forms of punishments."^[4] The capital offenses in Afghanistan include a range of crimes from murder to adultery, and are governed by Sharia, along with civil laws.^[5]

Capital Offenses

The capital offenses include the serious crimes and are governed by Sharia laws, along with civil laws. The capital offences includes:^[6]

• Adultery
• Apostasy
• Arson
• Blasphemy
• Espionage
• Fornication
• Homosexual intercourse
• Murder
• Perjury
• Terrorism

Notable Executions

• April 2004 – Abdullah Shah was executed by shooting inside Pul-e-Charkhi prison outside Kabul.^[7]
• October 2007 – Fifteen prisoners were executed by shooting inside Pul-e-Charkhi prison, including Reza Khan.^[8]
• June 2011 – Two mass killers were executed by hanging in Pul-e-Charkhi prison. One of the killers was Zar Ajam,^[9] a 17-year-old from Waziristan, Pakistan, who had randomly shot dead 40 people inside a branch of New Kabul Bank in Jalalabad.^{[10] [11]}
• November 2012 – Fourteen prisoners were hanged inside Pul-e-Charkhi prison.^{[12] [13]}
• October 2014 – Five men were executed by hanging inside Pul-e-Charkhi prison. The men were accused of robbery and gang rapes.^[14]
• May 2016 – Six men were executed by hanging inside Pul-e-Charkhi prison on charges of terrorism.^{[15] [16]}
• December 2022 – One man who had confessed to murder was executed in public at a crowded sports stadium in Farah Province.^{[17] [18]} This is the first instance of public execution since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.^[4]
• June 2023 – A man found guilty of murdering five people was sentenced to death and executed with an assault rifle by the son of one of his victims. The execution took place outside a mosque.^[19]
• February 2024 – Two men were convicted for separate murders were shot by the relatives of their victims and executed while thousands watched at stadium in Ghazni.^[20]
• February 2024 – A man convicted of murder was shot five times by the brother of the murdered man in a sports stadium in northern Afghanistan. This was the third death sentence of this nature to be carried out in a five day span.^[21]

See also

• Judicial corporal punishment in Afghanistan
• List of prisons in Afghanistan
• Capital punishment by country

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2024-11-03 . Capital punishment Definition, Debate, Examples, & Facts Britannica . 2024-11-03 . www.britannica.com . en.
2. Web site: Afghan Lives Matter, stop the death penalty. 2021-08-19. EEAS - European External Action Service - European Commission. en.
3. Web site: Taliban hang dead bodies from cranes in city squares. 26 September 2021 .
4. News: 16 December 2022 . Afghanistan: UN experts call on the Taliban to immediately halt public floggings and executions . . 10 April 2023.
5. Web site: Death Penalty Worldwide . deathpenaltyworldwide.org . 12 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130604083731/https://deathpenaltyworldwide.org/country-search-post.cfm?country=Afghanistan . 4 June 2013 . dead.
6. Web site: Death Penalty Worldwide . deathpenaltyworldwide.org . 12 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130604083731/https://deathpenaltyworldwide.org/country-search-post.cfm?country=Afghanistan . 4 June 2013 . dead.
7. News: Former Afghan commander executed . BBC News . 2007-04-27 . 2014-10-08.
8. News: Afghanistan executes 15 prisoners by gunfire . Associated Press . October 9, 2007 . October 9, 2011.
9. News: Kabul Bank attackers sentenced to death . Pajhwok Afghan News . June 14, 2011 . 2023-05-09.
10. News: How the Taliban Turned a Child Into a Suicide Bomber . Nick . Schifrin . ABC News . June 21, 2011 . October 15, 2011.
11. Web site: Two mass killers hanged in Kabul prison . Upi.com . 2011-06-21 . 2014-02-23.
12. Web site: Afghanistan executes eight prisoners: officials . English.ahram.org.eg . 2012-11-20 . 2014-02-23.
13. Web site: Afghanistan hangs 'terrorists' . News.iafrica.com . 2012-11-21 . 2014-02-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141013192302/http://news.iafrica.com/worldnews/828701.html . 2014-10-13 . dead .
14. News: UPDATE 1-Afghanistan hangs five men over gang rape, despite concerns of rights groups . https://web.archive.org/web/20160306161555/http://in.reuters.com/article/afghanistan-execution-idINL3N0S33BR20141008 . dead . 6 March 2016 . reuters.com . 2014-10-08 . 2014-10-08.
15. News: UNAMA regrets execution of 6 terrorists by Afghan government . Ariana News . May 9, 2016 . 2023-05-09.
16. Web site: 2016-05-08. Afghanistan executes six Taliban prisoners. 2021-08-19. the Guardian. en.
17. News: Facing Intl Condemnation, Islamic Emirate Defends Sharia Executions . TOLOnews . December 8, 2022 . 2023-05-09.
18. News: Murphy . Matt . Taliban conduct first public execution since return to power. BBC News . 7 December 2022.
19. Web site: 2023-06-20 . Taliban carry out 2nd known public execution since seizing power in Afghanistan . 2024-11-03 . AP News . en.
20. News: Taliban hold public execution for 2 men, who are killed by gunfire in a stadium as thousands watch . Associated Press . 23 February 2024 . 23 February 2024.
21. Web site: 2024-02-26 . The Taliban hold another public execution as thousands watch at a stadium in northern Afghanistan . 2024-11-03 . AP News . en.