AFGHANISTAN: HUNDREDS AWAIT EXECUTION IN TALIBAN PRISONS AS WORLD MARKS DAY AGAINST DEATH PENALTY

October 16, 2024:

As the world observes the World Day Against the Death Penalty on October 10, reports indicate that hundreds of inmates in Taliban-controlled prisons in Afghanistan are awaiting execution. The Taliban’s prison administration has confirmed that between 1,000 and 1,100 inmates are awaiting the implementation of execution or Qisas (retribution) sentences.
The Taliban has enforced the death penalty as a part of its judicial system since regaining control in 2021. In a recent interview, the Taliban’s deputy head of prison administration reiterated that a substantial number of prisoners are awaiting execution under the group’s strict interpretation of Islamic law. However, some scholars, including Waliullah Labib, argue that the conditions under Islamic law for implementing executions are so stringent that they are rarely met. “In today’s era, I don’t think even ten percent of the actual Islamic criteria are fulfilled,” Labib said.