Man put to death for murder, first public execution in Afghanistan since Taliban's recapture

Kabul: A year after taking over the country's power, the Taliban held its first official execution of a man, who was accused of murder in western Afghanistan.

Confirming the execution, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that the man, who was executed, stabbed a man in western Farah province in 2017.

The execution of the man, which was authorised by the Taliban's supreme spiritual leader and held in the presence of over a dozen senior Taliban officials, was carried out by the victim's father, who shot the man three times.

The execution came after the country's supreme court announced public lashings of men and women accused of offences such as robbery and adultery had taken place in several provinces in recent weeks, a possible return to practices common during the Taliban's hardline rule in the 1990s.

The Taliban authority has the Supreme Court's order to carry out public lashing of men and women accused of offences such as robbery and adultery, which is said to have been taking place in several provinces.

A spokesperson for the UN human rights office last month called on the Taliban authorities to immediately halt public floggings in Afghanistan.

Public lashings and executions by stoning took place under the previous 1996-2001 rule of the Taliban.