RASC News Agency: Local sources from Chah Ab district, Takhar province, report that a 17-year-old girl was murdered in her husband’s home less than a week after their marriage. The girl, identified as Hasna, was reportedly killed by her husband following accusations that she was “not a virgin” at the time of their wedding. To date, local Taliban officials have not issued any statements or provided further details on the identity of the perpetrator.
Sources also reveal that Yaqoob, Hasna’s brother-in-law, was killed during the same “family dispute.” Eyewitnesses claim the Taliban has arrested Bismillah, Hasna’s uncle, on suspicion of involvement in the murders, though Bismillah has denied any connection to the crime. Local reports suggest that Haji Darwish, Hasna’s father-in-law, is accused of having fired the fatal shots that killed both his son, Yaqoob, and his daughter-in-law during the altercation.
This tragic incident underscores a broader pattern of violence linked to “virginity” accusations across Afghanistan and tribal regions, where such claims have historically led to femicide. Experts warn that many women, particularly on their wedding night, experience deep anxiety due to societal and cultural expectations tied to the preservation of virginity.
The hymen, often associated with virginity, has long been a subject of controversy. Medical experts clarify that this small membrane erroneously viewed as proof of virginity lacks any scientific basis for confirming sexual history. Its condition can change naturally and does not reliably indicate prior sexual activity.
