Afghanistan: 13-Year-Old Made to Execute Family’s Killer Before 80,000 People in Taliban-Controlled Khost

Khost, Afghanistan: A man convicted of murdering 13 members of a single family was publicly executed on Tuesday, December 2, inside a packed sports stadium in Khost province, according to reports emerging from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. An estimated 80,000 people were present at the venue despite strict prohibitions on mobile phones and video recording.

The Taliban stated that the execution followed confirmation of the conviction by courts at all judicial levels, including the Supreme Court — a claim that has triggered renewed criticism of the regime’s opaque judicial system. Eyewitness accounts and videos circulating online showed vast crowds gathered in and around the stadium, where gunfire echoed and religious slogans were heard.

The #Taliban have turned #Afghanistan into an exhibition of brutality: yesterday flogging, today a public execution in the Khost stadium. A man was gunned down on the orders of #Hibatullah, in front of hundreds of children and teenagers and most shocking of all, the final shot… pic.twitter.com/cfrlwvWgMR

— Golchehrah Yaftali (@womenaidafghan1) December 2, 2025

Executed Man Identified as ‘Mangal’

Taliban officials identified the executed man as Mangal, accused of killing Abdul Rahman and 12 of Rahman’s relatives roughly ten months ago. According to the authorities, the case underwent review by the courts of first instance, the appellate court, and the Supreme Court before the death sentence was carried out.

Execution Performed by 13-Year-Old Survivor Under Qisas

As widely reported by Afghan media, the fatal shots were fired by Rahman’s 13-year-old son — the sole surviving child from the brutal attack.

Under the Taliban’s interpretation of Qisas (retributive justice), the victim’s family is permitted either to pardon the perpetrator or enforce the punishment. The boy reportedly refused to offer forgiveness, leading officials to instruct him to carry out the execution following a brief formal announcement.

Afghanistan’s Supreme Court defended the act as the implementation of a “divine order,” adding that prayers had been offered for national security and the full enforcement of Islamic law. Taliban spokespersons also confirmed that this marks the eleventh judicial execution since the group seized power in 2021.

International Condemnation

The incident has drawn sharp criticism from global human rights bodies. UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett denounced the execution as “inhuman, cruel, and contrary to international law.” Rights organisations continue to highlight the Taliban’s lack of transparency, inadequate legal protections, and the absence of independent judicial oversight.