KABUL (SW) – Salam Watandar’s analysis of data on female murders and suicides in Afghanistan reveals that 92 cases were reported in the solar year 1403 (2023-2024), underscoring an ongoing crisis.
This figure shows that, on average, eight cases of female murder and suicide were documented monthly in media reports. Of the total, 68 were murders, and 24 were suicides.
Salam Watandar’s analysis shows that between the solar years 1400 and 1403 in Afghanistan, the number of female murders and suicides increased. However, there were significant differences in the number of reported cases across these years. In total, 323 cases were reported over the period.
In the second half of 1400, only 16 cases were recorded, but this number increased to 84 in 1401, reaching 131 in 1402, and dropping to 92 in 1403, reflecting a decrease from the previous year.
Despite this decrease, the overall trend of rising cases remains concerning. Beheshta Ali Khel, a former lawyer from the republic, notes that these numbers only reflect the cases reported by the media, as many murders and suicides are not publicly disclosed by families in Afghanistan.
She adds, “Suicides are never publicly disclosed. They are not reported to the media because the community and the individual’s family often place the blame on the victim’s friends or family, and prefer to keep it hidden. The rate of female suicides is very high.”
The analysis also reveals that of the 92 cases of female murder and suicide in 1403, 39 remained unclear, while 53 had identifiable causes.
Among the clear cases, 35 were linked to domestic violence, 8 to forced marriages, 3 to theft, and others to accusations of adultery, not being a virgin, mental illness, demands for rights from husbands, release from prison, or sexual assault.
Husbands and unidentified individuals were the main perpetrators of these murders. Of the 68 murders, 19 were committed by husbands, 18 by unknown assailants, 7 by brothers, 4 by fathers, 3 by sons, 3 by thieves, 2 by fathers-in-law, and 1 by an uncle. Nine other murders remain unsolved.
These murders were carried out in various ways: 29 by firearms, 19 by knives, axes, or machetes, 15 by hanging, 9 by poisoning, 5 by strangulation, 3 by shooting, and one by stoning and one by throwing into a well.
The victims included both married women and unmarried girls, with 38 of them under 30 years old.
The report indicates that the highest number of these cases were recorded in the provinces of Faryab, Nangarhar, Kapisa, and Kandahar.
Among the 92 cases reported in 1403, 44 came from Etilaatroz, 29 from Hasht-e Subh, 15 from Salam Watandar, and 4 from the Afghan Women’s News Agency.
Despite this decline in reported cases, the overall trend of increased violence against women continues to raise serious concerns about their security. Human rights observers and women’s rights activists warn that without immediate intervention, the situation is likely to worsen.
Eiman Bismil, a lawyer in the republic, says that the continuation of this trend will have detrimental effects on family health, community and cultural trust, and can lead to growing hopelessness among women.
“These murders and suicides send multiple negative messages,” he says. “They encourage women to think negatively and hopelessly, affect the mental health of families and communities, reduce trust in society, deepen gender inequality, and damage the social identity of women, especially those in affected families,” he added.
Religious scholars also say that suicide is prohibited in Islam, and the government is responsible for removing the barriers that lead to an increase in suicides, and for supporting women in society to prevent such cases.
Ataullah Anas, a religious scholar, explains, “In Islam, suicide is strictly forbidden and is considered a great sin. Islam emphasizes that human life is in the hands of Allah. Undoubtedly, the system and government are the primary responsible entities in this matter. Whether it is poverty, lack of employment, or family and cultural issues, anything that burdens women and leads to suicide must be removed.”
According to experts, the increase in suicides and murders of women is driven by various factors, including familial pressures, rising domestic violence, lack of supportive laws, gender inequality, and the inability of women to access justice.
Sayed Abbas Aminian, a former prosecutor and human rights expert, highlights that social and familial pressures, the lack of supportive legal frameworks, gender inequality, and limited access to justice are primary factors in the increase of female murders and suicides in Afghanistan.
He adds, “Social and familial pressures in Afghanistan are one of the human rights crises in this country. The Law on the Prohibition of Violence Against Women (2009), which was passed during the republic era, has now effectively been repealed. Women’s support organizations that previously provided legal and psychological services have been dissolved.”
Psychologists and women’s rights activists emphasize that domestic and social pressures, as well as government-imposed restrictions on women during the Islamic Emirate’s ruling, contribute to the rising violence and mental health disorders leading to murder and suicide.
Husna Raoufi, a women’s rights activist, points out that the lack of educational opportunities for women is exacerbating the situation. “In provinces where women have no access to violence response centers, the cases are more prevalent. What makes violence worse in Afghanistan today is the lack of educational opportunities for women. They have no access to their rights and modern knowledge.”
Sewita Habibi, a psychologist, adds, “Various mental health disorders, caused by social and familial pressures, personal thoughts, and anxiety, depression, or other disorders, can lead individuals to consider suicide.”
Salam Watandar reached out to the Ministry of Interior and the Supreme Court under the Islamic Emirate’s de-facto government for their views on the rising cases of female murder and suicide and their plans to address the issue, but repeated attempts were unsuccessful.
Legal experts suggest several measures to reduce female murder and suicide in Afghanistan, including international support, creating support funds, legal education, documenting the status of women, and ensuring legal equality between men and women.
They believe these steps, based on international agreements and Islamic teachings, could help mitigate the crisis.
Abdullah Ahmadi, a legal expert, says, “According to international documents, women should be able to exercise their rights. Supportive projects could have a significant impact on reducing this issue. A legal and supportive mechanism must be established for women at risk in Afghanistan.”
Meanwhile, Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, has noted that the ban on girls’ education has led to an increase in suicides among girls.
According to the Middle East Monitor publication, 250 suicides were recorded in Afghanistan in 2022, with 188 of those cases involving women.
Cases of female murders and suicides in Afghanistan have increased, while reports indicate that even before the change in the regime, incidents of female murders and suicides existed, and their statistics were published by women’s rights organizations.
According to a report by the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission during the previous government, physical violence, particularly beatings, dismemberment, and the killing of women, were the most common forms of violence inflicted on women in 2020.
