Associated Press, 30 October 1998

Corrupt officials lashed by Taliban

The whippings were in keeping with the religious militia's strict interpretation of Islamic law, which calls for public punishments, including executions, the AP said.

The AP said that the convicted men were paraded before the crowd and their crimes read out. and that witnesses said a soldier pulled them to one side and whipped them.

Each man was sentenced to 36 lashes and a six-month prison sentence, according to the news service, whose report gave no details on the administration of the strokes.

One of the men, Abdul Wadood, was an employee of the religious police, the AP said. It added that he was found guilty of forging the signature of the defense minister on requisition slips, then selling the requisitioned equipment.

The other two officials, Mir Qasim and Sher Jan, were found guilty of taking the equivalent of $35 in bribes, the AP said. In the 90 percent of the country under Taliban control, the militia have banned women from working and girls from going to school, according to the news service, which added that the militia also forces men to grow their beards and publicly beats anyone who shaves or trims his beard.