The issue of violence against women still remains highly controversial. Afghan women suffer domestic and social injustice and their rights are violated in one way or another. Gender discrimination is a chronic problem in the patriarchal society of Afghanistan which threatens women’s life for long. Likewise, many violent behaviors against them are reported in national and international media.
Ms. Mozhgan Mustafavi, Deputy to Women’s Ministry, said in the 1st March 2014 in a news conference that there have been 4,505 cases of violence against women from 1391, solar year, until now in 32 provinces of Afghanistan. She pointed out that the level of violence against women is high in 10 of the provinces; however, it reduced in 22 other provinces. She added, “Kabul has the most reported cases, 980 (21.8%) and then Herat with 673 (14.9%), Takhar 388 (7.5%), Balkh with 232 (5.2%) and Kapisa 215 (4. 8%) cases are submitted and as a result, the five mentioned provinces make up 54.5 percent of all registered cases.”
According to her the violence included forced marriages and giving baad, a traditional practice in which the father promises his daughter to someone to compensate crime committed by one of her family members, and beating. She further detailed that overall cases of violence included 327 murders and 1826 more beatings.
The European Union (EU) special representative in Afghanistan expressed his deep concerned over the level of violence against Afghan women and urged upon the government to adopt all measures to protect the gender’s rights.
Quoting Franz-Michael Mellbin, a statement issued by the EU said: “"We are seriously concerned about the highly worrying numbers – both the recorded an unrecorded – of violent cases against women and girls. Human Rights – in particular the rights of women and girls – remains a key priority for the European Union.”
The statement added that EU is worried about the fact that in one out of five reported and registered cases, the victims do not follow-up. The concern is that these cases are not followed up due to fear and/or intimidation.
If the criminals do not be punished by official sanctions, they will continue their violent behaviors against women. Therefore, the government should take serious measures to end such discriminations and violence committed against women.
In addition, the clergy are responsible to preach against the anti-Islamic cultures and traditions being followed by the people. Moreover, any types of violence against women are seriously forbidden in Islam and should be stopped. Hence, it is the religious scholars to fulfill their religious and moral responsibility through raising their voice against all injustice going on against Afghan women.