Witnessing ‘DEATHS, DEATHS and more DEATHS’ have become the destiny of afghan woman. For more than 20 years, Afghanistan has been at war. We all know, even before war the condition of Muslim women was not good. They have been suffering from many years but CURRENT WAR has broken them down emotionally as well. In attempt to search Osama Bin laden and destroy Taliban regime (Do not forget both are created by US itself), US has ruined thousands of innocent lives.
Afghanisthan Women Picture Gallery
Afghan woman who is suffering in the hands of poverty and decadent social traditions, find an easy escape in suicides.
The advent of President Hamid Karzai government has brought some changes in the social condition of women in Afghanistan. This has improved the condition of women of upper class and middle class women but the effect is almost negligible for lower class women. The latest survey of conducted by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) reveals the ground reality in Afghanistan. The survey was conducted in 2004 on 50,000 war widows. UNIFEM and associated nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have taken one year to complete this survey. The findings of the survey are given below:
1. 65 percent of the 50,000 war widows living in Kabul see suicide as the only option to escape from their misery and desolation.
2. The majority of Afghan women are victims of mental and sexual violence.
3. 16 women had already ended their lives since the interviews were conducted.
4. Gender discrimination and violence against women was common in most parts of Afghanistan.
5. In Helmand province, which is also known as the center of poppy cultivation, more than 100 women committed suicide.
6. In Herat province, there were 93 cases of attempted suicide last year and 54 cases so far this year.
Kulsoom who is married to a 40-year-old man, survived after attempt to commit suicide said,
For two years, my husband beat me and treated me like an animal.
In the much-publicized story of 20-year-old Jamila whose story resembles to Kulsoom’s story, said,
I did not know how to end the misery of torture and daily beatings I got from my cruel husband. So I poured petrol on myself and set myself ablaze.
Now She is receiving treatment for her injuries in a hospital in Kabul.
Another report by the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan said,
Desperate to escape domestic violence, forced marriage and hardship, scores of women across Afghanistan each year are committing suicide by immolating themselves.
Afghan women usually take high dose of opium, rat killers and petrol to end their lives. In a report by Womenkind — an international NGO said,
80 percent of marriages in Afghanistan are forced and that more than half of Afghan women are married before they turn 16 to men who are much older. The exchange of women and girls to resolve a crime, debt or household dispute is also common and in most of such marriages violence against women is a common practice.
However the Karzai government has banned the marriage of women under 18 years old.
Whether it is Jamila, Muka or Kulsoom, the suffering tales of Afghan women is almost same. I want to ask Mr. Bush! Come and see what u did in Afghanistan. The media may have spread awareness about women’s rights but it is not enough to curb physical and mental violence against women. After digging Afghanistan so badly, women empowerment should be the next mission of United Nations Security Council.
Comments
I cannot say that I understand what these women face on a daily basis, but I can feel the pain of abuse. Death sometimes seem to be the last resort, and last sacrifice for woman who yearn for self respect. I do not feel that we as Woman should be punished for being woman. Give them back their self respect, if Bush really wanted to help people, he would find some business of his own and tend to business that really mattered. These woman, are really in pain if suicide is their last resort, they dont even care about the after effect of their choices (read Quran on suicide.)
yes women position in a male dominating families is still hanging.all these happens in our country also,where male child birth is celebrating more than that of female child.
The Bush Administration has refused to protect women’s rights in Iraq. In fact, it has decisively traded women’s rights for cooperation from the Islamists it has helped boost to power. Torture of women by police recruits armed, trained, and funded with US tax dollars is also one symptom of this broader crisis.