Afghanistan has drawn intense international criticism after a video surfaced showing a 13-year-old boy carrying out a public execution in Khost province. The footage, widely circulated online, renewed concerns about the Taliban’s justice system and its use of minors in capital punishments.
According to Afghan and international media, the execution occurred in a crowded stadium where thousands gathered to watch the killing of a man named Mangal. Authorities had convicted him of murdering 14 members of a local family around ten months ago. The victims reportedly included nine children, making the case one of the province’s most brutal incidents in recent years.
Taliban officials stated that the case went through several judicial stages, from local courts to the Supreme Court. The court upheld the death penalty under qisas, the principle of retributive justice. Taliban chief Hibatullah Akhundzada later approved the sentence, allowing the execution to proceed.
Moreover, officials estimated that nearly 80,000 people gathered inside and outside the stadium. Videos showed spectators filling every available space, with many chanting as the fatal gunshot echoed through the arena. Observers noted that the sheer size of the crowd highlighted the public nature of the event.
The Supreme Court said the victim’s family had the choice to forgive the convict. However, they rejected the option and demanded retribution. Local reports stated that a 13-year-old boy from the slain family was asked whether he wanted to pardon the killer. When he declined, officials allowed him to carry out the execution himself.
Khost police confirmed the details of the conviction. They said the suspect had murdered the family in an extremely violent attack and was punished according to the law applied by the Taliban.
Meanwhile, UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett condemned the incident. He called the public execution and the involvement of a child a severe violation of human rights. He said such acts remain incompatible with international law and Islamic principles. His statement intensified calls for the Taliban to halt public executions and stop using minors in punitive actions.
The latest incident has intensified global debate over Afghanistan’s justice practices. Rights groups continue to warn that such spectacles undermine human dignity and place vulnerable individuals, especially children, at serious psychological and moral risk.
