KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – An 18-year-old girl has died by suicide in northern Balkh province amid a surge in cases among women and girls in Afghanistan.
Local sources identified the young woman as Sona, who ended her life by hanging herself at home in Mazar-e-Sharif, the provincial capital, on Monday, February 10.
The motive behind the incident remains unclear. However, sources said she had been engaged to one of her relatives about a year ago, which may have been a contributing factor.
Local Taliban authorities have not yet commented on the incident.
Since the Taliban’s return to power, suicide cases among women and girls have surged, with restrictions on women’s rights, forced marriages, mental health issues, and domestic violence cited as major causes.
Life has become increasingly difficult for women, who have been stripped of rights to education, employment, and movement. The Taliban has also dismantled legal protections against domestic abuse, leaving many women trapped in cycles of violence with no access to justice.
In 2023, Etilaat Roz recorded at least 103 cases of women dying by suicide across 28 provinces, with the majority of victims under the age of 20. The actual numbers are believed to be higher, as many cases go unreported due to Taliban media restrictions and family efforts to keep such incidents private.
