Afghanistan’s Taliban makes 13-year-old boy execute convicted murderer in stadium spectacle attended by 80,000

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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’.

open image in gallery Huge crowds attended the execution at a sports stadium ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

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 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.

open image in gallery The execution was carried out under Sharia law ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

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.

open image in gallery A Taliban policeman looks on as a crowd heads toward the stadium to witness the execution ( AP )

“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.