KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A newly married young woman has died by suicide in southern Kandahar province, adding to a growing number of such cases among women across Afghanistan.
Local sources told KabulNow that the incident took place in Zhari district on Friday, January 31. The woman, who had been married for six months, took her own life at her husband’s home, the sources said.
The exact circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear. However, sources suggested that domestic violence may have been a factor.
Local Taliban authorities have yet to comment on the incident.
Suicide cases among women and girls have surged since the Taliban’s return to power, with restrictions on women’s rights, mental health issues, and widespread domestic violence cited as key factors.
Life under Taliban rule has become increasingly difficult for women and girls, who have been systematically stripped of their rights to education, employment, and freedom of movement. The Taliban has also dismantled legal and institutional frameworks that once provided some protection against domestic abuse, leaving many women trapped in cycles of violence with no access to justice.
In 2023 alone, Etilaat Roz documented at least 103 cases of women dying by suicide across 28 provinces, with most victims under the age of 20. However, the true number is likely higher, as many cases go unreported due to Taliban media restrictions and the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health issues.
