13-year-old boy executes man who killed his family before massive crowd in Afghanistan's Khost

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A convicted murderer was shot in front of a huge crowd inside a packed sports stadium in Afghanistan's Khost province, multiple media reports said on Tuesday.

According to a report by the Associated Press, the man who was executed was identified as Mangal. Taliban officials said he had been convicted of killing 13 people from one family. The victims included nine children and their mother.

Mangal murdered the victims around ten months ago in the Ali Shir and Terezio districts.

Authorities said the execution took place on Tuesday before an estimated 80,000 people looking. Afghanistan’s Supreme Court later described the punishment as the implementation of Qisas, or retaliation.

The court stated, "In Khost Province, the divine order of Qisas (retaliation) was carried out on a murderer."

The Court added, "At the conclusion of the gathering, prayers were made for the strengthening of national security, for the people's better access to their legitimate rights, and for the proper implementation of Islamic Sharia throughout the country."

What drew particular attention was that the fatal shots were fired by a 13-year-old boy, the only surviving member of the victims family.

Reports from Amu News said he was given the option to pardon the convicted man. After he refused, he carried out the execution himself. Local police spokesman Mustaghfir Gorbaz confirmed Mangal’s identity and reiterated that the case involved the killing of an extended family.

Taliban officials said the conviction had passed through courts of first instance, appeal and the Supreme Court. Victims' families were reportedly offered the possibility of reconciliation, which could have prevented the execution, but they insisted on the death penalty.

A detailed statement issued by Afghanistan’s Supreme Court identified the executed man as "Mangal, son of Tala Khan, grandson of Rahmat Khan, originally from the Sajank area of Said Karam district of Paktia province, and a current resident of the Kuzi Abukhani area of Alishero and Terezio district of Khost province."

The Court said he had "deliberately killed Abdul Rahman, son of Zabit, grandson of Ali Khan, an original and current resident of the Kuzi Abukhana area of Alishero and Terezio district of Khost."

While the incident has drawn criticism, the Taliban have defended their actions. Kabul-based journalist WA Mubariz wrote on X, "This is what an Islamic system means, a system that fears no one and implements the commands of Allah on earth."

This latest execution is the 11th judicial killing carried out by the Taliban since they regained power in 2021.