The Taliban judiciary has confirmed that a woman and four men were publicly flogged in Afghanistan’s Sar-e Pol and Maidan Wardak provinces for alleged offences of “illicit relations” and theft.

The punishments, which included between 25 and 39 lashes, were accompanied by prison sentences ranging from one to three and a half years.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Taliban’s criminal court in Sar-e Pol announced that a woman received 39 lashes and a one-year prison term for suspected “illicit relations.” The flogging was carried out in a public setting.

In a separate announcement, the judiciary reported that its primary court in Jalrez district, Maidan Wardak province, sentenced four men to 25 lashes each for alleged theft. Two of the men were also handed three-and-a-half-year prison sentences, while the other two received terms of two years and eight months. The floggings took place publicly.

According to the Taliban Supreme Court, the punishments were administered in the presence of local officials, government employees, court visitors, and members of the public.

Despite widespread international criticism of corporal punishment and accusations of torture, the Taliban continues to employ public lashings as a means of enforcement and intimidation.

The group’s Supreme Court provided no details on the judicial process, including whether the accused were granted access to legal representation. International human rights organisations have repeatedly raised concerns over the absence of fair and transparent legal proceedings under Taliban governance.