The Taliban just can't seem to let go of their brutal ways.
The insurgent group who's now in control of Afghanistan said that strict punishments like hand amputations and executions will be re-imposed in the country, one of the founders said during an interview with The Associated Press.
"Everyone has criticized us for the extreme punishments in the stadium, but we've never said anything about their laws and their punishments," Mullah Nooruddin Turabi, a Taliban leader in charge of detentions under the new government in Afghanistan, said in quotes by AP.
Despite its attempts to project a new image, the Taliban remain firm in enforcing a conservative and hardline ideology, including a tyrannical ruling system.
Turabi, who was a justice official and supervised religious policies during the Taliban's previous governance, said while judges will arbitrate on cases, the Quran will serve as the basis of laws in the country.
The Taliban said that no one tells them what their laws should be. "We follow Islam and we enforce our laws based on the Quran," the group said.
Turabi dismissed the indignation over the Taliban's executions in the past -- which at times were held in public places like stadiums and witnessed by large crowds -- and warned the world against getting in the way with Afghanistan's new leaders.
During that time, the cutting of limbs and executions were carried out for criminal offenders, including theft and highway robbery. This kind of harsh punishment will be reinstated, Turabi said.
"The cutting off of hands is very necessary for the country's security," Turabi said, who claimed the practice was to prevent theft and other crimes.
For thieves found guilty of a crime, the punishment was amputation of a hand. For those convicted of highway robbery, a foot and hand will be amputated.
Turabi, now in his early 60s, pointed out that the new government is analyzing whether to carry out the punishments in public and will craft a new set of laws going forward.
On top of announcing that severe form of punishments would be brought back, Turabi said the Taliban would now permit the use of mobile phones, television, and videos because "this is the necessity of the people, and we are serious about it."
