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MAIMANA (SW) – Women in Afghanistan’s deeply conservative patriarchal society have long been consulting traditional healers and opting for amulets for protection and treatment.
More often than not, this has caused serious troubles for them such as extortion and even sexual exploitation. But, the grim fears of serious backlash from the men-dominated society has forced many such victims to grieve silently.
Recently, the social media platforms in Afghanistan were taken by storm with the viral videos of one such so-called religious healer, Mulla Rasul Landay. This man was exploiting poor rural women in Faryab province on the pretext of healing their perceived infertility.
Disguising as the spiritual leader, Landay would sexually assault the women and capture the whole episode on a video camera for blackmailing. He remains on the run from the security forces, but the victims remain vulnerable to backlash from the society.
One such victim, Munnera, has been in police custody over charges of visiting and having ties with Landay.
In exclusive interview with Salam Watandar, she claimed her innocence. Munnera was in a shelter home for six months, and has been in police custody for almost a month now.
She said the allegations levelled against her are not proven yet, but police arrested her merely on suspicion. Munnera sighed she is ill, but there are no health services provided to her in police custody.
We wished to have the views of the Attorney General Office in Faryab, but to no avail.
Officials at the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission in Faryab noted they have received no complaints in this connection. Zabihullah Jawad, head of the AIHRC Faryab chapter, told SW they would act in defense of any victim suffering persecution in police custody.
It has been seen in conservative Afghan society that women feel increasingly isolated in the wake of such allegations while men are often treated with impunity in similar cases.
ENDS
