Date: 22/11/1446
Six Defendants Subjected to Discretionary Punishment in Khost Province
According to the decision of the Criminal Division of the Urban Primary Court of Khost Province, discretionary punishments (taʿzir) were carried out on 22/11/1446 AH against six individuals, including two women, on charges of adultery and sodomy.
From among the individuals, the Criminal Division had sentenced three defendants to five years of imprisonment each and 39 lashes each; two defendants to one year of imprisonment each and 30 lashes each; and the sixth defendant to two years of imprisonment and 39 lashes as discretionary punishment. This ruling was implemented after being approved by the High Authority of the Supreme Court.
At the gathering organised for this purpose, officials delivered comprehensive remarks regarding the enforcement and implementation of divine rulings.
After the discretionary punishments were applied to the defendants, the gathering concluded with prayers.

This entry documents the implementation of discretionary criminal punishments (taʿzir) in Khost Province following rulings by the Criminal Division of the Urban Primary Court. Six individuals, including two women, were sentenced to imprisonment and corporal punishment for offenses related to adultery and sodomy. The punishments were carried out after approval by the Supreme Court authority and were accompanied by a public gathering in which officials emphasized the enforcement of religiously defined legal norms. The case illustrates the Taliban justice system’s use of corporal punishment and custodial sentences to regulate personal relationships and sexual conduct within a framework presented as the implementation of divine law.