Enforce amputations and stonings, says Taliban leader

AFGHANISTAN’S Taliban leader has ordered judges to fully enforce Islamic law on public executions, stonings, floggings and punishment amputations for thieves.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban chief spokesman, announced late on Sunday that the “obligatory” command by Hibatullah Akhundzada came after the secretive leader met a group of judges.

The Taliban had promised to rule more moderately than during their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001, when they regularly carried out public floggings and executions at the national stadium. However, the group has gradually clamped down on rights and freedoms.

Mr Akhundzada, who has not been filmed or photographed in public since the Taliban returned to power in August last year, rules by decree from Kandahar, the movement’s birthplace and spiritual heartland.

“Carefully examine the files of thieves, kidnappers and seditionists,” Mr Mujahid quoted the Taliban leader as saying. “Those files in which all the Sharia [Islamic law] conditions of hudud and qisas have been fulfilled, you are obliged to implement.

“This is the ruling of Sharia, and my command, which is obligatory.”

Hudud refers to offences for which certain types of punishment are mandated, while qisas translates as “retaliation in kind” – an eye for an eye.

Hudud crimes include adultery – and falsely accusing someone of it – drinking alcohol, theft, kidnapping and highway robbery, apostasy and rebellion.

Qisas covers murder and deliberate injury, among other things, but allows for the families of victims to accept compensation in lieu of punishment.

Islamic scholars say crimes leading to hudud punishment require a very high degree of proof, including – in the case of adultery – confession, or being witnessed by four adult male Muslims.

Social media has been awash for more than a year, and even recently, with videos and pictures of Taliban fighters meting out summary floggings to people accused of various offences.