Man publicly executed in Helmand

LASHKARGAH, Sep 2 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Taliban have publicly executed a man for his alleged involvement in a murder case in the Garmsir district of the southern Helmand province on Saturday.

Taliban have started a new reign of terror which reminds our people of their medieval rule from 1996 to 2001.

Dozens of people in Safaar village were present and witnessed the execution, a resounding of the six-year rule of the religious students. The Taliban leader on the scene, delivered a lengthy sermon to the gathering before the man was hanged to death.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi said the man was hanged because he had killed an innocent person recently and the victim's father demanded justice from the Taliban.

The alleged murderer was arrested about a week back and was tried by the Taliban under Islamic laws. He was found guilty of the crime and was awarded death penalty, said the purported spokesman.

Ahmadi said it was the 11th case of its nature in Helmand since the overthrow of their regime in 2001. Fazal Bari, resident of the area, told Pajhwok Afghan News large number of people witnessed the Qisas (death penalty for killers under Islamic laws).

Contacted for comments, district officials said they were not aware of any such incident. Inhabitants of Garmsir said Safaari village was out of the government's control since long.