Afghanistan’s Taliban made a 13-year-old carry out a public execution in front of thousands of onlookers, shooting a man who had killed more than a dozen members of the boy’s family.
An estimated 80,000 people gathered at a sports stadium in the southeastern province of Khost to witness the horrific spectacle, condemned by the UN as “inhuman and cruel”.
The convicted murderer, called Mangal, and two others had been found guilty of killing 13 members of the teenager’s family, including several children and women.
The killer was sentenced to ‘Qisas’ - a retaliation punishment under Sharia law similar to the Biblical principle of ‘an eye for an eye’.
The Supreme Court said the victims’ relatives were given the chance to forgive and reconcile – a move that would have spared the man’s life – but authorities said they instead insisted on the death penalty.
“Today a murderer was sentenced to retaliation punishment (Qisas) in the sport stadium in Khost province,” a statement from the Supreme Court of Afghanistan said on X.
“The family of the victim was offered the option of forgiveness and retaliation, but after they refused and insisted on Qisas, the order for the implementation of the divine ruling of Qisas was issued.
“At the conclusion of the gathering, prayers were made for the strengthening of the national security, for the people’s better access to their legitimate rights, and for the proper implementation of Islamic Sharia throughout the country.”
The Taliban carried out a public execution of a man in a stadium before 80,000 spectators in Khost province!
— Nilofar Ayoubi 🇦🇫 (@NilofarAyoubi) December 2, 2025
What's even more alarming is that @AmuTelevision reports the executioner was a 13-year-old boy who pulled the trigger !!
This should Trigger a warning to the world.… pic.twitter.com/qbRpEPjPpn
The Taliban had reportedly banned spectators from bringing camera phones inside the stadium where the execution was held.
However, a video captured from outside the stadium purported to show a huge crowd of tens of thousands of men gathering to witness the execution.
Executions have also been ordered for two others who were part of the murder, but could not be carried out as some of the heirs of the victims were not present.
The man was shot to death after Afghanistan’s three levels of courts – lower, appeals, and the Supreme Court – all confirmed the death sentence, with the country’s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada giving the final seal of approval.
It marked the 11th execution carried out under the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Sharia law, under which crimes such as murder, adultery, and theft can involve punishments including execution, amputation, or flogging.
The Taliban has also banned Afghan women and girls from secondary school, university education and most forms of employment since the group seized power in 2021 in the wake of the chaotic withdrawal of US and Nato forces.
United Nations’ special rapporteur for Afghanistan Richard Bennet posted on X earlier on Tuesday that reports had suggested the public execution was imminent and called for it to be halted.
“Public executions are inhumane, a cruel and unusual punishment, and contrary to international law,” he posted.
During their previous rule of Afghanistan in the late 1990s, the Taliban regularly carried out public executions, floggings and stonings.
The Taliban’s first public execution since returning to power was in December 2022, carried out by the victim’s father in front of a crowded stadium in Farah province.
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