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Taliban executes killers on football pitch with machine guns in packed stadium

WARNING, GRAPHIC CONTENT: The Taliban executed two men in an Afghani football stadium this week, with thousands packed in to watch the murderers be gunned down in broad daylight

The Taliban executed two murderers in a packed out football stadium in Afghanistan on Thursday (February 22).

The two men, identified as Syed Jamal from central Wardak province and Gul Khan from Ghazni, were found guilty of stabbing deaths by the Taliban's Supreme Court.

Supreme Court official Atiqullah Darwish read a death warrant aloud, signed by Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. He said: "These two people were convicted of the crime of murder... after two years of trial in the courts of the country, the order has been signed."

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[TV Progs Bebeath The Veil Taliban Execution Kabul Afghanistan Moment of execution as bullet hits floor in front of executed Woman This picture may be used solely for Channel 4 programme publicity purposes in connection with the current broadcast of the programme(s) featured in the national and local press and listings. Not to be reproduced or redistributed for any use or in any medium not set out above (including the internet or other electronic form) without the prior written consent of Channel 4 Picture Publicity]

A previous execution carried out in Afghanistan (file)(Image: Channel 4)

Thousands, including the victims' families, were packed into the stadium in Ghazni city to watch the men be gunned down by machine guns, from behind and in broad daylight. The victims' families refused pleas for forgiveness from religious scholars.

The executions took place in broad daylight with 15 bullets fired at the men - eight at one and seven at the other. Their bodies were then taken away by ambulances. Abu Abu Khalid Sarhadi, a spokesman for Ghazni police, said the relatives of the victims executed the two men.

These killings are the third and fourth public executions since the Taliban took over in 2021, following the messy exit of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan.

[KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - OCTOBER 9: Taliban in a van patrol the streets of the city on October 9, 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Taliban garrison and patrol the streets of Kabul. Today the great danger to security is determined by Isis-K (a local Isis franchise) which continues to carry out attacks against the Taliban and the Shiite minority and crime which has also increased due to the economic crisis. Since the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the economy has suffered after the world aid funding stopped, which has created a humanitarian crisis. Most art, culture and pastimes have been banned. The female population have also had to quit jobs and young girls after the age of 12 can no longer go to school or further education. (Photo by Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images)]

These killings are the third and fourth public executions since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021 (file)(Image: GETTY)

The UN has condemned the Taliban for carrying out public executions, lashings and stonings since taking power, and called on the country's rulers to stop such practices.

On Thursday, the UN expressed its strong opposition to the death penalty, stating it was inconsistent with the fundamental right to life. Its mission in Afghanistan urged Taliban authorities to stop carrying out the death penalty.

Public executions were common during the Taliban's first rule from 1996 to 2001.

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