By Rukhshana Media
Members of the Taliban publicly lashed a young couple a total of nearly 60 times in the capital of central Ghor province, Firozkoh, on Sunday, a relative and a human rights activist told Rukhshana Media.
“The couple was whipped 29 times each for riding on a motorbike together,” said a relative of the man’s family, who spoke to Rukhshana Media on condition of anonymity.
“There were over a hundred people who witnessed the whipping, but the Taliban threatened anyone wishing to film or report it to the media,” the relative said.
The couple was forced to marry each other after the public lashing, according to the same source.
The Taliban could not be contacted for comment.
Hassan Hakimi, a human rights activist from Ghor who lives outside of Afghanistan, also confirmed the incident. Even though Ghor has long been largely lawless, with people being stoned to death over the recent years, the Taliban’s sweeping return to power since mid-August has seen a rise in the use of kangaroo courts.
This was the second public whipping punishment carried out in a month. On October 8, the Taliban whipped a couple 80 times who were accused of having sexual relations outside of marriage.
