The issue of domestic violence against women in Afghanistan has been prevalent since ancient times but has now escalated under the shadow of Taliban rule due to the reinforcement of male dominance. Factors such as poverty, economic hardships, violations of women’s rights by the authorities, lack of public awareness of women’s empowerment, and low literacy rates are considered the main contributors to violence against women in Afghan society. The resurgence of the Taliban group has solidified the culture of male dominance in the country, leading to the perpetuation of oppression and violence against women.
For over two and a half years now, the country has been under Taliban control, resulting in a general prohibition on women and girls from engaging in political, social, and cultural activities. Many men have also been sidelined from their duties, leading to unemployment, poverty, and a continuous rise in domestic violence. When women and men lack opportunities for work or engagement outside the home, their lives darken, and verbal disputes escalate, ultimately resulting in domestic violence within the confines of their households.
A 30-year-old woman named Nazifa, residing in Kabul, shared with the Afghanistan Women’s News Agency that her husband used to work in a private company in the third district of Kabul near the Pul-e-Surkh area. As the Republic government fell, his work gradually diminished until the company collapsed, rendering her husband completely unemployed and confined to the house.
Nazifa expressed how her husband’s unemployment had severely impacted his mental and emotional well-being, turning him into a ruthless and oppressive figure. She recounted instances of him physically abusing her and their son while portraying a different demeanour outside the home, causing her relatives to dismiss her accounts of his violence as mere accusations against her husband. Nazifa narrated a distressing incident where, upon returning from a market trip during the holy month of Ramadan, she found her 5-year-old son injured due to her husband’s escalating frustrations. The resulting confrontation led to her husband physically assaulting her, causing her to bleed from her abdomen, and prompting him to rush her to the hospital for treatment. Despite her injuries, she was prevented from disclosing the truth to the doctor by her husband, who falsely claimed she had fallen down the stairs when her abdominal wounds from a previous altercation were visible.
Furthermore, Nazifa recounted a troubling incident where an argument over rent with her father escalated, leading her husband to violently confront her father, causing chaos and distress within their household. The intervention of neighbours and family members diffused the situation, but the underlying tension remained.
In her distress, Nazifa expressed her disillusionment with her current life, stating that if it weren’t for her son, she would have sought a divorce. She also lamented the prospect of her husband potentially marrying her cousin, highlighting the emotional turmoil and societal pressures she faced in contemplating divorce.
Nazifa concluded by emphasizing that the issues and violence she endured were beyond her control and a result of the prevailing government authority. She reminisced about the days when her husband, despite his flaws, would go to work in the mornings and return home in the evenings, fostering a life of peace, tranquillity, and intimacy between them.
Reports indicate a surge in domestic homicides, suicides, violence, torture, and women and girls fleeing their homes over the past two years. Women and children in Afghanistan continue to be the primary victims of poverty, economic hardships, and domestic violence.
- نویسنده : Afghanistan Women News Agency
- منبع خبر : Afghanistan Women News Agency
