DW: Afghanistan sees return of brutal punishments under Taliban
When the Taliban seized power in 2021, many people, including some Western diplomats, expected the fundamentalist group to rule differently this time around.
A year later, Afghanistan's rulers have proven them wrong. Although analysts didn't expect the Taliban to transform into a liberal outfit, they hoped the group might have become "politically mature" as they seized power in Afghanistan for the second time.
The hardline group's first stint in power — from 1996 to 2001 — was marked by their massive violations of human rights, public floggings, curbs on women's participation in public life, among other things.
These were the major concerns for the West before the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and toppled the Taliban regime.
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Update #1: Taliban to impose their interpretation of Sharia law in Afghanistan (CNN)
Update #2: Taliban lash 12 people before stadium crowd in Afghanistan (AP)
WNU Editor: There appears to be some bending of sharia law when it comes to opium production. So much for the Taliban's promise to ban this industry .... Afghanistan: Opium cultivation up nearly a third, warns UNODC (UN News).