Taliban Executes Sixth Public Murder Convict

On November 13, 2024, the Taliban executed a convicted murderer, Mohammad Ayaz Asad, by gunfire at a sports stadium in Gardez, marking the sixth public execution since the group regained power in 2021. The execution was carried out in accordance with the Taliban's interpretation of Islamic law, known as 'qisas', allowing for retributive justice. Asad was shot three times in the chest by a family member of the victim, who had declined the option to stay the execution. The event drew thousands of spectators, including high-ranking officials like Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani. Human rights organizations and the United Nations have condemned the practice, calling it a violation of fundamental human rights, yet the Taliban continues to uphold such corporal punishments. Public executions were prevalent during the Taliban's earlier regime from 1996 to 2001, and although they have been less frequent since 2021, they remain a tool of the Taliban's strict governance.