estaban castigando
-they/you were punishing
Imperfecto progresivo para el sujetoellos/ellas/ustedesdel verbocastigar.

castigar

Bueno, no esperaba que me castigaran mientras me estaban castigando.
Well, I just didn't expect to be punished while I was getting punished.
Ella solo estaba siendo honesta sobre quién es y la estaban castigando por eso.
She is only being honest about who she is, yet she was being punished for it.
A dos de ellos les dijeron explícitamente que los estaban castigando por su relación con un preso político.
Two of them were explicitly told they were being punished because of their relation to a political prisoner.
Palabra del día
aterrador