The harrowing tale of a 15-year-old Afghan girl who attempted suicide by drinking battery acid has thrown light on the alarming rise in suicides and suicide attempts among Afghan girls and women. This shocking phenomenon, as activists and officials claim, is provoked by the strict ban on female secondary education imposed by the Taliban after their return to power two years ago.
The young girl, identified here as 'Azo,' once cherished big dreams of becoming a doctor, but when the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan in August 2021, her aspirations shattered. As her access to education was abruptly cut off, her mental well-being spiraled downwards. A scenario that, sadly, is not unique to Azo but replicated across Afghanistan, enhancing a deeply disturbing trend, as verified by health and human rights organizations.
