RASC News Agency: Local sources in Faryab province have confirmed the deaths of two women in the districts of Dawlatabad and Shirin-Tagab, both victims of violent acts that underscore the persistent insecurity for women under Taliban rule. According to eyewitness reports, the first incident occurred on Friday, September 12, in Dawlatabad district, where a 30-year-old woman was strangled to death by her husband. The killing reportedly stemmed from familial tensions, specifically a dispute involving the victim and her sister-in-law. Local sources indicate that the husband lured his wife and her sister-in-law under the pretense of visiting a doctor, transported them to the “Salt Mine Crossroads” area, murdered his wife, and then fled with the sister-in-law.
Taliban authorities in Faryab later confirmed the discovery of the woman’s body after the vehicle became immobilized in a sand-and-forest area. A brief statement from the Taliban-controlled Faryab police, posted on Facebook, noted that the husband and his sister-in-law had been apprehended in Shiberghan, the provincial capital, but provided no further details regarding the investigation or accountability measures.
In a separate incident, local sources reported that a 45-year-old woman in Shirin-Tagab district was fatally shot by unidentified armed assailants. The attack occurred in the village of Baluch, where the perpetrators forcibly entered her home and opened fire. Sources noted that the victim originally hailed from Baghlan province and had relocated with her family to Shirin-Tagab.
Neither the local Taliban authorities nor their security apparatus have issued a public response to this second killing, highlighting the group’s persistent indifference to the protection of women and civilians. Human rights observers emphasize that in areas under Taliban control, weak law enforcement, lack of judicial accountability, and systemic impunity for perpetrators enable domestic violence and targeted attacks to flourish unchecked.
These tragic deaths are symptomatic of a broader pattern of vulnerability faced by Afghan women, who are systematically denied safety, legal protection, and access to justice under the Taliban’s de facto rule. The regime’s failure to safeguard basic human rights particularly for women exacerbates the climate of fear and reinforces patriarchal violence, leaving countless women trapped in dangerous domestic and social environments.
Analysts warn that without independent policing, robust judicial oversight, and international pressure, such incidents are likely to continue, underscoring the Taliban’s complicity in perpetuating gender-based violence. The lack of accountability and protection not only endangers women’s lives but also deepens Afghanistan’s broader humanitarian and social crises, illustrating the urgent need for intervention by both domestic and international human rights organizations.
