\n<\/p>\n
The Taliban staged three public executions in the past week, a stark contrast following months of inactivity.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur understanding of the situation just decreases daily; however, I would say the Taliban are interested in asserting their dominance over the Afghan people,\u201d Bill Roggio, the Founding Editor of \u201cThe Long War Journal,\u201d said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to remember their primary reason for existence is to\u00a0impose sharia, or Islamic law<\/a>, on the Afghan people,\u201d Roggio added. \u201cThey view that as a number-one priority, and executions for various crimes \u2013 theft, or adultery or other crimes \u2013 that is a means for them to impose Sharia. I don\u2019t believe anything they\u2019re doing here is to send a message externally. This is the Taliban asserting their control over the Afghan people.\u201d<\/p>\n Report from Fox News:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Courts convicted the three men of murder: The first man, identified as Nazar Mohammad from the Faryab province, killed one person; the\u00a0other two had stabbed victims to death<\/a>. Relatives of the victims shot the convicts while standing in arenas where thousands of people watched, The Associated Press reported.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n The brother of the murdered man shot Nazar Mohammad five times with a rifle, according to a witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity and added that security around the stadium was tight. Three of the country\u2019s highest courts and the Taliban supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, approved Mohammed\u2019s execution.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Separate statements from the supreme court said a man and a woman convicted of adultery were flogged with 35 lashes each in northern Balkh province over the weekend. Two other people were given 30 lashes each in eastern Laghman province, also over the weekend, for allegedly committing immoral acts.<\/em><\/p>\n