"I had two choices: get married, sell drugs and live a miserable life—or commit suicide. I chose the second option," said Latifa (not her real name), an 18-year-old Afghan woman. She recently failed to commit suicide, and her story reflects the deepening tragedy of women in the country.
According to the Zane Times, an investigative project led by Afghan women, since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, suicides and suicide attempts among women, including girls, have soared.
Taliban supporters celebrate two years since their return to power in Kabul, Photo: AP
The Taliban does not prohibit doctors from publishing information on the subject, but what is known is that Afghanistan has become one of the few countries in the world where the proportion of women who end their lives is higher than that of men: women account for more than 75% of all suicides and cases that have been prevented.
Women sew clothes in Badakhsan district. Few crafts remain open for them, Photo: AFP
According to the World Health Organization, twice as many men than women commit suicide worldwide. There was also a male majority in Afghanistan until 2019 – the last year for which official numbers are available. Now, in ten of Afghanistan's 11 provinces, women have taken the lead. The only province where the men lead is Nimroz, through which they try to cross the border into nearby Iran. The vast majority of those who take the risk are men, who often prefer to end their lives over the risk of being caught.
"A Muslim cannot oppose women's education": Demonstrators in Mazar al-Sharif, this month, photo: AP
"Afghanistan is in the midst of a mental health crisis, stemming from the crisis in women's rights," Alison Davidian, the UN representative for Magdi equality in the country, told the Guardian. "We are in the midst of a moment where more and more women and girls prefer death to living in the current conditions."
An Afghan woman sits next to a child, in Dhahsan, Photo: AFP
And these conditions get tougher from week to week. The Afghan Minister for Combating Virtue and Promoting Virtue, Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, bans women from visiting a national park because, he says, they do not wear the headscarf correctly when visiting. "Hiking is not mandatory for women," Hanafi said after his visit to the park. To prevent women from visiting Band al-Amir Park — a picturesque lake surrounded by mountains — security forces will deploy in the area, the Associated Press said.
Women and men spend time at the lake in October 2021. From now on, entry will only be allowed to men, Photo: AFP
"Heel to thumb, the walls are closing in on women in Afghanistan, and every home is being turned into a prison," said Heather Barr, senior women's rights official at Human Rights Watch.
This morning, in the presence of Dr. Essa Al Bastaki @ebastaki and the management team at Al Habtoor Group, I met three Afghan female students who made it to #Dubai safely, They are among those who received the comprehensive scholarship that I provided them with in collaboration... https://t.co/PlDaNlbDlO
— Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor (@KhalafAlHabtoor) August 24, 2023
To make matters worse, the Taliban appear to have decided to deny Afghans not only higher education in their homeland but also abroad. After banning women from university enrollment in December last year, Emirati billionaire Khalaf Ahmed al-Habtoor announced scholarships to study at the University of Dubai. About 100 young Afghan women won scholarships, but recently when they asked to go to Dubai, they were refused.
Women in Afghanistan try to adjust to life under Taliban rule | Reuters
"After the Taliban closed universities to women, my only hope was to get a scholarship to help me study abroad," Natakai (not her real name) told the BBC. She continued to study and secretly prepare in case she won a scholarship – and she did. But when she arrived at Kabul airport in late July, her dream was shattered. "Taliban officials saw my and my friends' tickets, and the student visas, they said girls are not allowed to study." Even three young women who flew accompanied by Muharram – a male relative – were taken off the flight. In a broken voice, Netkai said that at least 60 young women like her returned home shattered. In response, Al-Habtoor posted a video in English attacking the Taliban and saying that women and men are equal according to Islam.
"Don't neglect young Afghan women or their education," Netkai called on the international community. "I missed the opportunity in this country, where it is a crime to have a girl. I'm very sad and I don't know what will happen to me in the future." Latifah made it clear to her relatives about her husband: "If I have to return to him, next time I will make sure there is no chance of being saved."
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