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Credibility Assessment
Relies on two unnamed eyewitnesses with direct access to the event, providing specific location in Qalat city, Zabul province, and charges of adultery and theft. Lacks precise date beyond 'Monday' and explanation for eyewitness anonymity, with no right of reply from Taliban or accused.
Two eyewitnesses reported to Afghanistan International on Monday that the Taliban flogged nine individuals in Sheikh Mati Stadium in Qalat city, the capital of Zabul province. The flogging occurred on charges described as adultery and theft.
According to the eyewitnesses, the Taliban had previously instructed residents of the province to attend the stadium to witness the punishment.
The event took place in the central stadium of Qalat, drawing local residents as directed by Taliban authorities. The nine individuals received the flogging as a form of punishment for the specified offenses. No further details on the identities of the flogged individuals or the exact number of lashes were provided in the accounts.
This public punishment aligns with reports of similar enforcement actions in the region. The eyewitnesses, who observed the event firsthand, shared their observations with the media outlet. The instruction to residents indicates an effort to make the punishment visible to the public.
Zabul province, located in southern Afghanistan, has been a site for various security and governance activities under Taliban administration. The use of a stadium for such events suggests a public demonstration of judicial measures. Eyewitness accounts provide direct testimony of the incident's occurrence and setting.
