Watchdog

The Taliban rulers of Afghanistan have defended the reintroduction of public flogging in the country following harsh criticism from international groups. The group blasted recent statements by the UN Human Rights Office, Amnesty International, and Western diplomats regarding public floggings. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban government's chief spokesman, said that calling the Islamic penal code of flogging an "inhumane and cruel act" showed disrespect to Islam and was a violation of international principles.

Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev was sworn in for his second term as Kazakhstan’s president in a ceremony in Astana on November 26 after winning a snap election that international observers said lacked genuine competition. Toqaev's victory was expected, given that he was competing against five little-known opponents. The November 20 election came nearly three months after Kazakhstan replaced its system limiting presidents to two consecutive five-year terms with a single seven-year term. To read the original story by RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service, click here.