A 13-year-old boy executed a man convicted of murdering 13 members of his family in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Khost. Around 80,000 people watched the execution, which was ordered by the Afghan Supreme Court and sanctioned by the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. The public execution has been condemned by the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan.
A chilling video of a public execution has emerged on social media that reports say is from eastern Afghanistan’s Khost. A man convicted of murdering 13 members of a family, including nine children, was executed on Tuesday at a stadium in Khost, reported several news outlets, including the Associated Press. The execution carried out in a stadium, witnessed by an estimated 80,000 people, was carried out by a 13-year-old boy whose family was among the victims.
The executed man, identified by Taliban officials as Mangal, had been convicted by Afghanistan’s Supreme Court and approved for execution by the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.
The public execution drew international condemnation, with the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, calling it “inhuman, cruel and contrary to international law”.
The execution marks the 11th judicial killing carried out by the Taliban since their return to power in 2021, according to Afghanistan’s Supreme Court.
“In Khost Province, the divine order of Qisas (retaliation) was carried out on a murderer,” said Afghan Supreme Court, adding, “At the conclusion of the gathering, prayers were made for the strengthening of national security, for the people’s better access to their legitimate rights, and for the proper implementation of lslamic Sharia throughout the country.”
PUBLIC EXECUTION IN AFGHANISTAN STADIUM. 13-YR-OLD BOY KILLS CONVICT
Tens of thousands, including relatives of the victims, gathered at the sports stadium in Khost to witness the execution. Mostaghfar Gurbaz, spokesperson for the Taliban governor in Khost, confirmed that Mangal had been found guilty of killing a Khost resident, Abdul Rahman, and other family members in Ali Shir and Terezio districts approximately 10 months ago.
In the video, tens of thousands can be seen packed inside and outside the stadium. As five gunshots rang out, people chanted religious slogans.
“The murderer, Mangal, son of Tala Khan, grandson of Rahmat Khan, was originally from the Sajank area of Said Karam district of Paktia province, and a current resident of the Kuzi Abukhani area of Alishero and Terezio district of Khost province. He had deliberately killed Abdul Rahman, son of Zabit, grandson of Ali Khan, an original and current resident of the Kuzi Abukhana area of Alishero and Terezio district of Khost,” said a press release by Afghanistan’s Supreme Court.
According to Taliban authorities, the man was convicted after proceedings in courts of first instance, appeal, and the Supreme Court. Victims’ families were reportedly offered the option of forgiveness and reconciliation, which could have spared Mangal’s life. But they requested the death penalty instead.
Citing local sources, Afghanistan’s Amu News reported that the execution was carried out by the 13-year-old boy, after he was asked if he wished to pardon the convicted man. Upon his refusal, the boy fired the fatal shot.
Khost police spokesman Mustaghfir Gorbaz confirmed the identity of the executed man and reiterated that the case involved the killing of an extended family, including nine children and their mother, Amu News reported.
“This is what an Islamic system means, a system that fears no one and implements the commands of Allah on earth,” Kabul-based journalist WA Mubariz posted on X.
THE TALIBAN AND ITS METHODS OF “JUSTICE” IN AFGHANISTAN
The Taliban have reinstated a strict interpretation of Sharia law, including public executions, floggings, and other corporal punishments. This echoes the practices from their previous rule in the late 1990s.
Human rights organisations have repeatedly criticised the Taliban’s justice system for lack of transparency, due process, and fairness.
Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, took to X to condemn the execution. “Public executions are inhumane, a cruel and unusual punishment, and contrary to international law,” he said, urging the Taliban to halt public executions and retribution killings immediately.
