Information and Culture department head Rahmatullah Hamad said that in Zabul two women and one man were publically whipped for committing adultery and another two men were whipped for robbery.

Earlier, the leader of the Islamic Emirate, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, said that all previous laws will be considered null, and Sharia law will be implemented in the country. 

Dozens of locals gathered to watch the public punishment.

“The Taliban succeeded. They said in their initial speech that the constitution and other laws of the former government are demolished and Sharia law will be implemented,” said Shir Hassan Hassan, a political analyst.  

“First of all, Hudud has its own conditions which require an actual witness and a confession that is not forced. I am sure that these two issues have not been observed,” said Munisa Mubariz, a human rights activist.  

The local officials in Zabul did not allow the press to cover the scene of the punishment, but the Information and Culture Dept head Rahmatullah Hamad said that two men were arrested on charges of robbery and they were given 20 lashes and one month in prison.

“One man and one woman were punished on charges of adultery, the man named (…) was hit 39 times and was sentenced to six years in jail. The woman named (...) was whipped 39 times and sentenced to two years in prison, and a woman named (…) who facilitated the illegitimate relations between the two of them was whipped 20 times and sentenced to six years in prison,” he told TOLOnews in a voice message. 

“The decision made based on Sharia, it is natural that it will come into effect in Islamic governments,” said Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.  

Earlier, the Provincial Governor of Parwan, Obaidullah Ameenzada, said that the leader of the Islamic Emirate, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, ordered to cancel all laws and implement Sharia law in the country.  

“He (Islamic Emirate’s Supreme Leader) said no, there is no difference between the law of Ashraf Ghani and Zahir Shan. We don’t accept the law of Zahir Shah and Ashraf Ghani, we want Sharia law,” he said.  

This is the first time that the individuals are being punished based on Sharia law in public under the current government.