Teenage Faryab girl hangs herself to death

MAIMANA (Pajhwok): A 19-year-old girl has allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself inside her home in the Pashtunkot district of northwestern Faryab province, a security official said on Monday.

The security official, who wished to go unnamed, told Pajhwok Afghan News the girl, Zyadah, had been engaged six months back and her family was preparing for her wedding.

Marzya Sadaat, family advisor at the Women for Women Officer, who traveled to Khanaqa district where the incident took place, said Zyadah’s mother died when she was 13 years old and she had to look after her seven brothers, sisters and father.

Sadaat said according to Zyadah’s sisters, she used to talk for long hours with her fiancé and sometimes the couple engaged in verbal disputes. She used to be nervous after their telephonic conversation, Sadaat said.

Syed Hafizullah Fitrat, head of the human rights commission office, said such incidents resulted from forced marriages and lack of awareness. He said it was 21^st incident of suicide registered with the human right office this year.

/ma