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17-Year-Old Newlywed Killed in Takhar After Being Accused of ‘Not Being a Virgin’

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN –  Local sources in Takhar province, northern Afghanistan, reported that a 17-year-old newlywed was killed by her uncle at her husband’s home after being accused of “not being a virgin.”

Speaking with KabulNow today, the sources reported that the incident took place in the Chah Ab district on Tuesday, October 22. They added that the groom’s younger brother was also killed during the family dispute.

The source said that both the bride and groom are from the same province and were married 10 days ago. They mentioned that on the wedding night, accusations spread among the women that the bride was not a virgin and had been in a relationship with another man. This led to a family dispute lasting several days and ultimately resulted in the killing of the bride and her brother-in-law.

The sources explained that around 11 AM on Tuesday, while the bride was at her husband’s home, her uncle entered the house and shot her with a gun. As he was leaving, he also shot and killed the groom’s brother.

The Taliban governor of the district, Mawlawi Abdull Qadir, confirmed the incident, saying that they have arrested the perpetrator.

The local Taliban authorities have denied the accusations against the bride, noting that an investigation found she had not been in a relationship previously.

Similar incidents have occurred in the past, mostly in the tribal regions of Afghanistan, where newlyweds have faced divorce, torture, or even death over accusations of not being virgins or having relationships with other men.

The woman’s own family is often behind such incidents, sometimes shunning her or handing her over to authorities for prosecution. In the most severe cases, her own relatives carry out honor killings.

The Taliban authorities enforce a strict interpretation of Sharia law, subjecting individuals found guilty of having relationships outside of marriage to public flogging or, in some cases, death.