Afghan Women Face Rising Violence Under Taliban Rule, New Data Reveals

 

Recent data analysis from the Centre of Information Resilience’s Afghan Witness project has highlighted a disturbing trend of gender-based violence in Afghanistan since the Taliban's takeover. The project has documented over 300 cases of Afghan women being killed by men, describing these figures as merely “the tip of the iceberg” regarding the true extent of violence against women in the country.

According to the report, which combed through social media and news sources, 332 cases of femicide have been recorded since the Taliban seized power on August 15, 2021. This analysis represents one of the first attempts to quantify sexual and physical violence against Afghan women under the Taliban regime.

From January 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024, the Afghan Witness project identified 840 instances of gender-based violence, averaging almost one incident per day. The data indicates that more than half of these cases involved Taliban officials. Specific incidents reported include 115 cases of sexual violence—such as forced marriages, sexual slavery, and rape—as well as 73 cases of non-sexual violence and torture. Additionally, 113 incidents involved the arrest of women for violating the Taliban’s restrictive policies on female movement and behavior.

David Osborn, the project director of Afghan Witness, emphasized that the actual number of cases is likely far higher due to the Taliban's crackdown on independent media and their repression of journalists. He noted that the current figures only represent a small fraction of the violence occurring, given the difficulties in documenting and reporting such cases under the Taliban's restrictive regime.

Since the Taliban's return to power, they have imposed severe restrictions on Afghan women and girls, effectively instituting a system of "gender apartheid." Women have been barred from attending secondary schools, working in most professions, and accessing public spaces such as parks and gyms. They are also required to adhere to a strict dress code.

The Taliban have also reintroduced public punishments, including flogging and stoning, for alleged moral transgressions. A UN survey from December last year reported that 76% of Afghan women and girls rated their mental health as "bad" or "very bad," citing symptoms of trauma such as insomnia, depression, and anxiety.

In response to these oppressive policies, Afghan women have staged protests in Kabul and other cities. However, the frequency of public demonstrations has decreased significantly over the past three years, with most now occurring online to evade Taliban repression. Recent footage verified by Afghan Witness shows large-scale arrests of women in Kabul for alleged violations of hijab rules, with reports of violence and sexual assault during detention.

As the situation continues to deteriorate, the international community remains concerned about the increasing violence and the erosion of women's rights in Afghanistan.