The brutal lashings are the latest in a series of harsh punishments imposed by the Taliban regime.

In a disturbing display of the Taliban’s ongoing enforcement of strict policies, nine men were publicly flogged in a packed sports stadium in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The lashings, which took place in front of a crowd of local spectators, are the latest example of the regime’s draconian measures since it took power in August 2021.

Haji Zaid, a spokesperson for the governor’s office in southern Kandahar province, confirmed the incident, stating that each man received between 35 and 39 lashes. The men were punished publicly in front of Taliban officials, religious leaders, and local residents. However, the spokesman did not specify the charges or crimes the men had been accused of.

This incident follows a pattern of extreme punishments under the Taliban, including a public execution last month where an Afghan man was killed by the victim’s father, as hundreds watched.

The international community has yet to formally recognise the Taliban-led government, which came to power after a swift military takeover. Last year, twelve individuals, including three women, were also publicly flogged in front of thousands in a football stadium in Logar province for alleged “moral crimes.” The harsh punishments continue to draw condemnation from human rights groups worldwide.