Taliban Public Executions Draw Crowds in Afghanistan Stadiums, Signaling Harsh Rule
On April 11, 2025, the Taliban executed four men convicted of murder in stadiums across Qala i Naw, Zaranj, and Farah, marking their ninth public execution since 2021. These events reflect the Taliban's strict authority enforcement, eliciting mixed reactions from spectators and highlighting ongoing human rights violations in Afghanistan.
hassan benyoub 
On April 11, 2025, the Taliban executed four men convicted of murder in packed stadiums across Afghanistan, marking the ninth public execution since their 2021 return to power. Held in Qala i Naw, Zaranj, and Farah, these events, ordered by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, reflect the Islamic Emirate’s strict enforcement of authority, drawing thousands of spectators and sparking mixed reactions. The executions underscore Afghanistan’s ongoing human rights challenges under Taliban governance.
Public Executions in Three Cities
In a grim display of control, Taliban authorities carried out public executions in three Afghan provinces. In Qala i Naw, Badghis province, two men were shot before an estimated 20,000 spectators. Another execution took place in Zaranj, Nimroz province, and a fourth in Farah, the capital of Farah province. These were the first public executions in these regions since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, highlighting their intent to project power through spectacle.
Structured Public Spectacle
The executions followed a ritualized format, with photography and mobile phones banned to prevent image leaks. In Qala i Naw, witness Mohammed Iqbal Rahimyar, 48, described the condemned seated with their backs to the crowd. Victims’ families, offered but declining pardon or financial compensation, were handed weapons to carry out the killings themselves—a practice some attendees called a “divine order.” The Afghan Supreme Court stated that Akhundzada personally approved the executions after rigorous judicial reviews, reinforcing the Taliban’s centralized authority.
Mixed Reactions Among Afghans
Spectators expressed divided sentiments. Javid, a 30-year-old Afghan, praised the executions as evidence of the Islamic Emirate’s “strength,” while others noted the somber, ritualistic atmosphere, marked by failed reconciliation attempts between victims’ and perpetrators’ families. The events, held in stadiums filled with thousands, reflect the Taliban’s strategy to deter crime and assert dominance, though they raise concerns about human rights violations.
Taliban’s Broader Governance Strategy
Since seizing power in August 2021, the Taliban have reinstated public executions, albeit less frequently than during their 1996-2001 rule. With nine recorded in four years, these acts aim to solidify control over Afghanistan’s 40 million people under the Islamic Emirate, a regime unrecognized internationally. The executions signal a return to harsh punishments, contrasting with global calls for humanitarian reforms in Afghanistan.
Global Implications
The public executions highlight the Taliban’s defiance of international norms, complicating Afghanistan’s relations with the global community. As the regime tightens its grip, human rights organizations continue to document violations, urging action to address the country’s worsening humanitarian crisis.
