KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A 17-year-old girl in Badghis province was fatally shot after refusing an arranged marriage, local sources confirmed.
The incident occurred on the night of October 28 in Jalali village, where the girl was allegedly killed by her brother for opposing the marriage.
Taliban authorities have confirmed the incident. Sediqullah Siddiqi, a spokesperson for the Taliban police in Badghis, stated that four individuals, including the girl’s father and brother, have been arrested in connection with her murder.
He added that an investigation into the killing is underway, but authorities have not provided further details on the motive.
This tragic event underscores a troubling pattern of violence against women in Afghanistan. Two weeks earlier, another young woman in Herat province was stabbed to death by her brother after rejecting a forced marriage.
Since the Taliban regained control in August 2021, gender-based violence (GBV) has surged. A report by Afghan Witness revealed over 700 cases of GBV from January 2022 to June 2024, involving 840 women and girls. Among these cases, at least 322 were classified as femicide—murders motivated by gender. The report also documented 287 instances of arrests, detentions, and enforced disappearances, alongside 75 cases of sexual assault or rape.
The Taliban’s return to power has resulted in systematic violations of women’s rights, including bans on public sector employment, secondary and higher education, and access to public spaces such as parks and gyms.
Experts and human rights organizations have condemned the Taliban’s policies, labeling the escalating violence against women and girls as a form of gender apartheid.
