KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A 55-year-old man has been arrested for fatally shooting his 15-year-old wife in Kandahar’s Arghandab district, local sources report.
The victim, identified as Samia, was shot with a handgun by her husband on Saturday evening, October 5. The incident reportedly occurred after Samia fled to her father’s house to escape domestic violence. Samia’s brother was also injured during the shooting.
According to sources, Samia was married to the man a year ago in an arrangement facilitated by her father in “exchange for money.” She was the third wife of the suspect.
Taliban security officials in Kandahar confirmed the incident, stating that investigations are ongoing. A Taliban police official said the husband has been taken into custody and will be transferred to judicial authorities following further inquiries.
This tragic case reflects a broader pattern of child marriage and violence against women, which continues to rise under Taliban rule. The regime’s strict restrictions on girls’ education have exacerbated the situation, limiting opportunities for millions of girls and making them more vulnerable to early marriage.
Child marriage remains a deeply entrenched issue in Afghanistan, worsened by the Taliban’s policies that heavily restrict women’s rights. A recent report by UN Women warns that if the Taliban’s bans on girls’ education remain, child marriage rates could increase by 25%, early childbearing by 45%, and maternal mortality by 50%.
Afghanistan is now considered the world’s largest women’s rights crisis, with women and girls largely excluded from both national and international decision-making forums.
