Continuation of Reactions to Abida’s Self-Immolation

Zan TV

Following the self-immolation of Abida, a young girl from the Taywara district of Ghor province who set herself on fire in protest against forced marriage, Afghan activists have emphasized the urgent need to end violence and forced marriages through their messages.

In these videos, Afghan activists say that they are all Abida’s voice and have firmly expressed their opposition to forced marriage.

They added: “This is only one bitter example of the reality faced by the women and girls of this land, who live under systematic pressure and violence stemming from the Taliban regime and patriarchal rule. The outside world is merely watching and doing nothing to change the situation.”

The activists have also called on the international community and human rights organizations not to focus only superficially on the situation of Afghan women but to take real action to end the violence and violations of women’s rights in the country.

They asked: “How many more lives must be lost? How many more women must burn? How long will this silence continue?”