By Tamkin
PAN, Aug. 11, 2011: A 27-year-old woman reportedly committed self-immolation due to a family dispute in northwestern Jawzjan province, an official said on Thursday. He linked the suicide attempt to domestic violence. (Photo: PAN)
Self-immolation among Afghan Women (Photos)
A 27-year-old woman reportedly committed self-immolation due to a family dispute in northwestern Jawzjan province, an official said on Thursday.
The incident took place late on Wednesday night, said Col. Mohammad Jan Abed, the deputy police chief. He linked the suicide attempt to domestic violence.
A sister-in-law and mother-in-law of Fazala, the victim, have been arrested for investigation, he said.
Fazala, who is under treatment at the provincial civil hospital, received 55 percent burn injuries, Mirwais Amini, the hospital head, told Pajhwok Afghan News.
"The woman cannot be treated at the hospital and we are taking measures to shift her to Kabul," the official said.
In a brief chat with Pajhwok, the victim accused her husband, mother-in law-and sister-in-law of harassing her all too often. She said her husband had locked her up in a room for three days without food and water.
Fazala's mother urged the government to punish her in-laws for their involvement in the violence against her daughter.
Afghanistan's Human Rights Commission's spokesman for Jawzjan, Maghfirat Samimi, said most of self-immolation incidents were a result of early and forced marriages and unawareness about the rights of women.