London, Nov 14: The Taliban have reportedly dubbed the recent executions of nine death row prisoners as “barbaric”, and made appeals to the UN, the EU, the Red Cross and human rights groups to ask the Hamid Karzai administration to abstain from such moves in future.

The nine criminals executed were involved in crimes like child molesting, kidnap, murder and insurgent attacks.

According to The Telegraph, a statement posted on a website, purportedly coming from the organisation''s leadership council, raised concerns about fair trials.

“We strongly request the UN, the EU, the Red Cross and human rights groups to earnestly prevent this barbaric act,” the Taliban said in a statement, and also warned the Afghan government against more executions, saying the officials responsible would be “punished”.

During its rule in mid-1990s, the Taliban had attracted a lot of criticism for executing criminals, often amputating limbs of petty criminals like thieves, and shooting dead the hardened criminals in front of packed football stadiums.

Meanwhile, commoners in Afghanistan have welcomed the recent execution of men convicted of child molesting, kidnap, murder and insurgent attacks.

The Taliban, now fighting to overthrow Karzai''s government, had executed dozens of captured soldiers and civilians since they were ousted in 2001. (ANI)