The Taliban ruling in Afghanistan hung the bodies of four suspected kidnappers who had previously shot them in the western city of Herat on Saturday.
Herat Provincial Deputy Governor Shir Ahmed Muhajir said hanging bodies on cranes should be a “lesson” to prevent kidnappings from being tolerated.
The display of the bodies is the heaviest public punishment since the Taliban came to power in mid-August.
A video showed one of the men who had been shot, who was hanging from a crane and had the warning on his chest: "This is how kidnappers are punished."
The kidnappers were killed in an exchange of fire
Muhajir said security forces had been informed that a businessman and his son had been kidnapped in Herat on Saturday morning.
The police then blocked the arterial roads and the Taliban took a position at a checkpoint.
There was an exchange of fire there.
After a firefight lasting a few minutes, “one of our mujahideen was injured” while “all four kidnappers were killed,” said Muhajir in a statement made available to the AFP news agency.
"We are the Islamic Emirate," said Muhajir.
“Nobody should harm our nation.” After taking power, the Taliban formed a government and are trying to gain international recognition.
There are fears that similar atrocities will again be perpetrated in Afghanistan as during their rule from 1996 to 2001.