KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in Helmand report that a young woman has died by suicide in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital.
According to the sources, the incident occurred on Sunday, March 30, the first day of Eid al-Fitr, in the city’s 1st District. The woman reportedly jumped from the roof of a house, leading to her death.
While the exact reason remains unclear, sources suggest domestic violence may have played a role.
Taliban authorities in Helmand have not yet commented on the incident.
Since the Taliban’s return to power, suicides among women and girls have surged, driven by increasing restrictions on women’s rights, forced and early marriages, mental health struggles, and widespread domestic violence.
Reports indicate a sharp rise in gender-based violence across the country.
A study by Afghan Witness recorded more than 700 cases between January 2022 and June 2024, affecting at least 840 women and girls. The report documented 322 cases of femicide—killings of women based on their gender—alongside 287 instances of arrest, detention, and enforced disappearances. At least 75 cases of sexual violence were also recorded.
