Outrage in Libya over a video of a woman being publicly flogged for adultery

The sentence is about to be carried out. A woman is waiting, kneeling in the street. To her right, a member of the judicial police is holding the whip that will be used to carry out the punishment, whilst another man reads out the verdict: “Today, in the city of Sabha, the sentence of 100 lashes is being executed in connection with a case of adultery, in accordance with the court’s judgement. The individuals concerned are currently in the public square for the sentence to be carried out.” The video, filmed in Sabha in the Libyan Desert, has been widely shared on social media and has sparked much online debate. Some have highlighted the illegality of carrying out the punishment in a public space and questioned the absence of the opposing party, whilst others have criticised this law, which they consider archaic. On July 21st 2026, a woman kneeling in the street in Sabha, Libya, received 23 lashes in 30 seconds from a judicial police officer. She is accused of adultery, and the court sentenced her to 100 lashes. To display this content from Instagram, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. 'We only saw these things happening when ISIS was in control of certa...