MAZAR-E-SHARIF (SW): Women prisoners have always been an eye-catching subject for local and international media, but what still remains unaddressed is their gloomy uncertain fate after they are assured with liberty from the prisons. A number ex-prisoners of feminine gender in Balkh province told Salam Watandar that though they are assured with liberty, but they do not feel secure and yet they are at risks. These ex-prisoners noted that it is difficult for them to reintegrate to the mainstream society as the family and society members are regarding them as criminals.
Maryam, a pseudonym for an ex-prisoner, told Salam Watandar that after getting free of prison, she had found herself compel to take refuge in women shelter house in Mazar-Sharif. The 23 year Maryam was jailed for one year on charges of eloping and forced marriage.
The 23 year old Fatima is another ex-prisoner who shared the same experience as Maryam shared. Fatima said that she was an orphan and her uncle forced her to marry off an old man. This 23 year old lady noted that she was imprisoned as her husband slandered her of wrong-doings. Fatima said that she is feeling insecure as her uncle has threaten her to death. “After getting free of the prison, I returned to my husband house, but he did not receive me as her wife again and kicked me out of his house”, the 23 year old lady added. For the time being, Fatima is also living in women shelter house.
In the meantime, Raihana Karimi, the in-charge for women shelter house in the province, told Salam Watandar that nearly 160 ex-prisoners of feminine gender have sought to rejoin their families but in most cases they have been rejected by their families. She pointed out that for the time being, most of them along with their children are living in women shelter house.
Report indicates that for now as many as 60 women are in-prison in Mazar-Sharif, on charges of eloping and murders.
ENDS
