UN urges Afghanistan's Taliban to end floggings, executions
A U.N. report has strongly criticized Afghanistan's Taliban rulers for carrying out public executions, lashings, stonings and other types of punishments since taking power almost two years ago ISLAMABAD -- A U.N. report on Monday strongly criticized the Taliban for carrying out public executions , lashings and stonings since seizing power in Afghanistan, and called on the country's rulers to halt such practices. In the past six months alone, 274 men, 58 women and two boys were publicly flogged in Afghanistan, according to a report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA. “Corporal punishment is a violation of the Convention against Torture and must cease,” said Fiona Frazer, the agency's human rights chief. She also called for an immediate moratorium on executions. The Taliban foreign ministry said in response that Afghanistan’s laws are determined in accordance with Islamic rules and guidelines, and that an overwhelming majority of Afghans follo...