Taliban flog 27 Afghans, including women, after first public execution

Criticism shows outsiders "don't have respect for the beliefs, internal issues of Muslims", chief spokesman says

AFGHANISTAN:

The Taliban flogged 27 Afghans, including women, in front of a large crowd on Thursday, a day after publicly executing a convicted murderer for the first time since they returned to power last year.

Their chief spokesman also pushed back at international criticism of the public punishments, calling it a lack of respect for Islam.

Despite promising a softer version of the harsh rule that characterised their first stint in power, the Taliban have gradually reintroduced an extreme interpretation of Islamic law -- or Sharia.

Chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the criticism showed outsiders "don't have respect for the beliefs, laws, and internal issues of the Muslims".

In a statement, the supreme court said 27 "criminals" were flogged Thursday in Charikar, capital of Parwan province, around 50 kilometres (32 miles) north of the capital Kabul.

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It said nine women were among those punished for crimes including "sodomy, deception, fake witness, forgery, selling and buying tablet K (drugs), debauchery, escaping from home, highway robbery and illegal relationships".

"Each of these criminals confessed their crimes before the court without any force and was satisfied with the punishment," it said.

A witness told AFP more than 1,000 people watched as the floggings were administered at a stadium in the city.

"The public was chanting 'Allahu akbar' and 'we want the law of God to be implemented on our soil'," he said.

They taunted those being flogged with cries of "will you do that again", the witness added.

Those flogged writhed in pain as they received between 20 to 39 blows from a cane "about a metre long and four fingers wide" from a team of Taliban who took turns as they tired.