Taliban carries out four public executions in Afghanistan’s largest single-day tally

Supreme Court confirms public killings at stadiums mark sharp rise in enforcement since Taliban return.

A general view of a football stadium where men were publicly executed in Qala-i-Naw, Badghis province, on April 11, 2025. Photo by AFP/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

The Taliban carries out four public executions in Afghanistan on Friday, marking the highest number of state executions conducted in a single day since the group returned to power in 2021. The Afghan Supreme Court confirmed the events, which unfolded at sports stadiums across three provinces, drawing crowds of spectators and reigniting global criticism of the Taliban’s harsh judicial practices.

The public executions were carried out under Islamic law and followed what the Supreme Court claimed were “carefully reviewed and verified” trials. According to official statements, the men were sentenced for committing murder and received the punishment of “qisas,” or retaliatory justice, in which victims’ families are given the right to exact vengeance.

A brutal return to stadium executions

Two of the men were executed in the provincial capital of Qala-i-Naw in Badghis province. Witnesses told AFP that the men were made to sit on the ground, backs facing the crowd, before being shot multiple times by a male relative of the victims.

"They were made to sit and turn their backs to us. Relatives from the victims' families stood behind and shot them with a gun," said Mohammad Iqbal Rahimyar, a 48-year-old spectator. He described a scene of grim silence and formality, followed by several gunshots that rang out in front of hundreds of onlookers.

The two other executions took place in different provinces — one in Ghazni and another in Laghman — both following a similar pattern, according to reports. These acts of public retribution brought the number of Taliban-sanctioned executions to 10 since the group reclaimed control of Afghanistan nearly three years ago, according to an AFP tally.

A legacy of fear revisited

During the Taliban's first regime from 1996 to 2001, public executions were routine. They often took place in Kabul's sports stadiums and were carried out in front of large crowds, sometimes even with children present. The group insists that its justice system, rooted in its interpretation of Islamic law, delivers swift and fair rulings. However, human rights groups warn that such actions are a breach of international legal norms and signal a return to the Taliban’s most feared tactics.

Friday’s executions served as a stark reminder of the power now wielded by the Taliban’s judiciary. While the Supreme Court claimed the cases were reviewed “very precisely and repeatedly,” there is widespread concern over the lack of transparency, absence of legal counsel, and the inability of the accused to defend themselves in a proper court setting.

International condemnation and silence from Kabul

As news of the executions spread, international rights organizations were quick to respond. Amnesty International released a statement calling the killings a violation of the right to life and due process.

“These public executions reflect the return of institutionalized violence in Afghanistan,” the organization said. “They are not only acts of punishment but serve as tools of intimidation and control over the Afghan people.”

Despite mounting international pressure, the Taliban leadership has remained silent on the criticism. The group's spokespersons have not issued any statements defending or elaborating on the recent executions, although in the past, they have maintained that such punishments are in line with Afghan culture and religious values.

A population under pressure

For many Afghans, especially in rural provinces where the executions took place, life under the Taliban remains marked by uncertainty and fear. Public punishments such as lashings and amputations have reportedly resumed in some areas, although with less visibility than during the 1990s.

Residents in Qala-i-Naw who witnessed the execution say the presence of armed Taliban guards and clerics at the event underscored how deeply integrated these practices have become in daily governance.

“It’s terrifying, but it’s normal now,” said one man, who asked not to be named. “They don’t just punish the guilty — they make everyone watch, so no one forgets who is in control.”

Legal reforms or propaganda?

While Taliban officials have occasionally spoken about modernizing parts of their judicial process, few concrete changes have been implemented. The Afghan Supreme Court, now operating under Taliban leadership, has yet to establish any public legal review mechanism or appeals process. Critics argue that the highly public nature of these executions serves more to reinforce political dominance than to deliver justice.

Some legal scholars note that under classical interpretations of Islamic law, retaliatory justice is permissible, but conditions must be met — including the consent of the victim’s family, availability of witness testimony, and verification by an impartial judge. Whether these conditions were met in the recent cases remains unknown.

A chilling precedent

As the Taliban carries out four public executions in Afghanistan in a single day, it sets a chilling precedent for what may lie ahead under the current regime. The group’s return to high-profile public punishment signals not only the consolidation of its judicial power but also a rejection of international legal standards.

While the Taliban insists its system is grounded in justice, the spectacle of these executions reveals a different reality — one where fear replaces due process, and control outweighs compassion.

For the families of both the victims and the executed, closure may be elusive. And for Afghanistan’s future, these public killings cast a long and uncertain shadow.