Afghanistan records 11th public execution since Taliban takeover

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​Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities conducted their 11th public execution since taking power in 2021, putting to death a man convicted of murdering 13 family members in the eastern city of Khost.

Some key facts:

• The execution took place at a stadium in Khost on Tuesday with tens of thousands of people in attendance, including relatives of the victims.

• The convicted man had killed 13 members of a family, including nine children and their mother, earlier this year.

• This is the 11th public execution carried out since the Taliban seized power in 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces.

• The execution was ordered after a death sentence was approved by multiple courts and Afghanistan’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.

• United Nations Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan Richard Bennet called for the execution to be halted, stating that public executions are inhumane and contrary to international law.

• The man was shot to death by a relative of the victims he was convicted of killing.

• The victims’ families were offered the option of forgiveness and reconciliation that would have spared the man’s life but chose the death penalty instead.

• The Taliban have imposed strict Shariah law, including bans on Afghan women and girls from secondary school, university education, and most forms of employment.

READ MORE: Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers carry out public execution in sports stadium in eastern city