Woman Killed in Ghor; Sources Report Torture with a Heated Iron Rod
Local sources in Ghor tell Zan News that Noria, a 32-year-old mother of four, died after being severely beaten by her husband following a family dispute.
According to the sources, the violence took place in front of her children, and injuries and bruising were visible on different parts of her body.
The incident occurred around two weeks ago in Tangi Sarpanak village in Taywara district of Ghor province.
A source who attended Noria’s funeral and asked not to be named told Zan News that her husband had recently returned from Iran and severely beat her following a family dispute.
The source said: “He tortured Noria in front of her children. After the severe beating, Noria died. She was known in our community as a quiet and peaceful woman.”
Sources say the violence began after a verbal argument between Noria and her mother-in-law.
Some sources have also alleged that a heated iron rod was used during the assault and that burns and injuries were visible on Noria’s body.
Noria had married around 10 years ago and had three daughters and one son.
According to the sources, one day after her death, Noria’s husband confessed to the killing after prayers at the village mosque and surrendered himself to the Taliban.
Noria’s death has also prompted reactions from women’s rights activists.
Karima Najafi, a women’s rights activist, told Zan News that a family dispute cannot justify violence against women.
She said: “A woman has the right to life. Unfortunately, women have been victims of domestic violence not only today, but also in the past. In Afghanistan, the distance between a family dispute and a deadly crime can sometimes be very short, and women become victims over the smallest disagreements.”
Sediqa Roshan, a human rights activist, also says Noria’s case once again raises the question of where women facing violence in Afghanistan can seek refuge.
She told Zan News: “Where should women facing violence seek refuge? Which institution should intervene before violence turns into murder? And are perpetrators of violence against women, regardless of their family relationship with the victim, truly held accountable?”
These concerns come as Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, has previously warned that women’s and girls’ access to justice has been severely restricted under Taliban rule. His report on women’s access to justice says specialised structures supporting women have been dismantled, reducing women’s ability to escape violence and pursue legal action against perpetrators.
