KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, report that a 25-year-old woman was beheaded by her husband in Kandahar city on Tuesday, June 10.
According to the sources, the incident happened in the 15th police district of Kandahar city. The victim was the mother of three children, including a newborn.
Sources identified the suspect as Fazl Mohammad, who is reportedly struggling with drug addiction. The motive for the killing is still unclear.
Taliban police in Kandahar confirmed the incident, saying the man has been arrested and that an investigation is underway.
The case follows a series of similar killings in other provinces. In recent days, three women were murdered by their husbands in Nangarhar and Samangan.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, incidents of domestic violence have surged. Afghan women now face severe restrictions and limited access to protection or justice.
Shortly after taking control, the Taliban shut down institutions established to protect women, including the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and courts that dealt with gender-based violence.
The United Nations and human rights experts have described the Taliban’s policies toward women as “gender apartheid,” warning that the repression will have long-lasting consequences for Afghan society.
