In a public execution today in Gardez, eastern Afghanistan, Taliban authorities shot a man convicted of murder, marking the sixth such execution since the group’s return to power in 2021. The order, signed by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, followed community calls to attend the event. The execution stems from the Islamic law of ‘qisas’, targeting those guilty of murder, following a refusal from the victim’s family to grant mercy. This incident raises ongoing concerns over human rights practices in the country, with the UN accusing the Taliban of enforcing a form of gender apartheid.