The Taliban Supreme Court on Tuesday announced that a court in Afghanistan’s north-eastern province of Kapisa publicly whipped two men accused of robbery.

The Supreme Court said that each convict, (name withheld) received 30 lashes. In addition, one convict was sentenced to three years in prison and another to one and a half years.

Court officials and residents witnessed the whippings, the statement added.

The Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan has seen the reintroduction of public punishments, including execution and flogging, for various crimes like murder, robbery and adultery.

Since August 2021, the Taliban courts had publicly executed five men convicted of murder.

In spite of criticism by rights organisations, Taliban officials said that the implementation of sharia, or strict Islamic law, is essential to reducing crimes and ensuring public safety.