An Afghan man and woman found guilty of adultery received 100 lashes on Monday in front of a crowd who filmed their punishment, TV footage showed.
Public lashings and executions were common under the Taliban, who enforced a strict interpretation of Sharia law from 1996-2001. The Islamist militant group was ousted from power by a US-led coalition and such punishments are now rare.
The footage, taken in the western province of Ghor, showed a woman wrapped in a head-to-toe burqa and a man each receive the punishment from a man in a turban wielding a leather whip, watched by a group of mostly seated men.
The two remained in a crouching position throughout and did not appear to cry out.
The sentencing was backed by the government in Ghor province, where the trial took place.
“They had relations a long time ago but were arrested early this month,” a spokesman for governor Seema Jowenda said. “Their punishment is based on Sharia law and will teach others a lesson.”
A local judge said the penalty was in line with the constitution and criminal law. A spokesman for the justice ministry was unavailable for comment.
