The combination of poverty, destitution, Taliban restrictions, persistent unemployment, and an uncertain future has driven many citizens to their breaking point. Under such unbearable conditions, some individuals in Afghanistan have tragically chosen to take their own lives. Recent suicide rates paint a grim picture, with 120 voluntary suicides recorded over the past 14 months. According to the latest statistics from Hasht-e Subh Daily, 25 individuals ended their lives between the 27th of April and the 29th of May this year. Moreover, during the month of Hamal (March-April) alone, 16 individuals succumbed to suicide. These figures reveal that within the past month, 13 women and 12 men made the heartbreaking decision to permanently end their lives, overwhelmed by poverty, deprivation, domestic violence, and the mental toll of unemployment and imposed restrictions. Comparing the statistics for the first two months of this year to the previous year, there has been a significant increase, with 41 reported suicides in the country.
While the actual number of suicides among men and women in the capital and provinces of the country during the past month might be higher, the Hasht-e Subh Daily has compiled and reported figures obtained from reliable sources. This report provides a gender-based categorization. Ghor, Faryab, Ghazni, and Nangarhar provinces have experienced the highest incidence of suicide cases in the past month, predominantly among young individuals. The average age range of those who have chosen to end their lives falls between 20 and 30 years.
Suicide Statistics of Women in the Month of Sawr (April-May)
In the month of Sawr (April-May), a 15-year-old girl named Nooriya took her own life in the Dawlat Yar district of Ghor province. Although the exact reason and motive behind the incident are unspecified, poverty and domestic violence have been cited as common factors contributing to suicide among women and girls in this province.
In another incident, a woman named Zarina ended her own life on Saturday night, May 20, in Kandahar province. She resided in the Gumbadi area, which falls under the fourth division of the Spin Boldak district. Zarina, who was 22 years old, reportedly suffered from psychological problems, as claimed by her husband.
Faryab province has witnessed the highest number of suicide cases in the past year. Within a 24-hour period on Monday, May 15, two women took their own lives in this province. A 19-year-old young woman, residing in the village of Koh-e Sayyad, Sherin Tagaab district, ingested rat poison as a means to end her life. She had a child and her suicide was reportedly a result of domestic violence. Similarly, in the Bilchiragh district of Faryab province, a 16-year-old girl named Mahbooba hanged herself, with family violence cited as the cause of her suicide.
Based on the reported incidents in the Hasht-e Subh Daily, a young girl in Faryab province ingested rat poison and ended her life on Friday, May 12. Domestic violence was cited as the reason for her suicide. This tragic incident occurred in the fourth division of Maimana City, the center of Faryab province.
Following the Taliban’s control of the country, women are confronted with numerous challenges. Some women resort to suicide due to reasons such as poverty, lack of welfare, the imposition of restrictive Taliban measures, and the enforcement of strict laws that reinforce male dominance. In line with this pattern, a 30-year-old woman hanged herself in the village of Badam Ali in Kapisa province at approximately 9:00 AM on Thursday, April 27. While the exact motive for her tragic act is unclear, previous instances of violence stemming from Taliban policies and their influence on the behavior of male family members have been identified as contributing factors to women’s suicides.
According to the reported incidents in the Hasht-e Subh Daily, on Thursday, April 27, another woman in Faryab province took her own life. She hanged herself in the Qurghan district of the province. At 56 years old, her suicide was attributed to domestic violence.
The incidents reported in the Hasht-e Subh Daily also reveal that a woman in the sixth security division of Ghazni City, located in Ghazni province, took her own life due to poverty. This woman ended her life in the Nowabad area of Ghazni City on Monday morning, May 22. She had four children, and her husband had recently gone to Iran due to unemployment.
Meanwhile, the Taliban authorities discovered the body of a female nurse in the Jaghori district of Ghazni province. Sources indicate that visible signs of strangulation were found on her neck. The body was found in the Ghojor area of the district before noon on Tuesday, May 16, and has been sent for forensic investigation.
On Thursday, May 25, sources informed the Hasht-e Subh Daily that a young girl hanged herself in the village of Panah in the Giro district of Ghazni province. The reason for her suicide has not yet been clarified, but recent days have seen an increase in suicide rates, particularly among women, in the province of Ghazni.
According to the events reported in the Hasht-e Subh Daily, a 15-year-old girl ended her life in the village of Sangqushqa, Dawlat Yar district of Ghor province. This incident occurred on Thursday, May 25. Although the motive for her suicide is still unclear, it is known that factors such as poverty and forced marriages contribute to suicides among women in the province of Ghor.
On Friday, May 26, another young girl, named Tahira, ended her life in the village of Kaftar Ali, Yangi Qala district of Takhar province. She was 20 years old. Local sources reported that Tahira consumed poison to take her own life as a result of family violence and conflicts with her husband’s family. It was also mentioned that she had been married for seven months and was four months pregnant.
On May 29, a young girl in the Shorabak area of the third district of Faizabad City, the capital of Badakhshan province, took her own life by throwing herself into the Kokcha River. According to local sources, her life was lost as a result of family violence.
Suicide Statistics of Men
On Monday night, May 22, in the Qala-e Hashmat Khan area of Kabul City, a man named Zumar committed suicide. Local witnesses reported that he went to the market to borrow food for his family. However, after the shopkeepers refused to lend him anything, he took his own life that same night.
A 19-year-old young man in the Gazestan area of Jawand district, Badghis province, took his own life. He shot himself on Monday, May 15. Family problems are believed to be the reason for his suicide. Badghis province has previously experienced suicides stemming from poverty and unemployment.
According to the recorded events in the Hasht-e Subh Daily, a young man named Jalalzai took his own life on Tuesday, May 9, in the village of Hasan, Gilan district, Badghis province. He hanged himself from a tree in one of the nearby gardens. The Taliban, in a Press Release, attributed his suicide to a verbal altercation with his father.
A 24-year-old man from the Chahar Dah-e Salar village in Saydabad district, Maidan Wardak province, hanged himself. This incident occurred on Monday, May 8, but the motive behind his suicide remains unclear, according to sources.
A man in the Muqur district of Ghazni province died after throwing himself under the tires of a freight truck. According to local sources, this incident occurred on Friday, May 5, in the Muqur district on the Kabul-Kandahar highway. In a press release, the Taliban authorities in the province of Ghazni stated that the man committed suicide due to dissatisfaction with his engagement with a young girl. The Taliban also mentioned that he had previously attempted suicide twice but was saved by others.
According to the events reported in the Hasht-e Subh Daily, a man named Abdul Ahad committed suicide in Yangi Qala district, Takhar province. Abdul Ahad used a locally made rifle to shoot himself on Thursday, May 4. He was 70 years old, and it is believed that he took this drastic step due to mental health issues.
Statistics and figures on suicide compiled by the Hasht-e Subh Daily reveal that Rahimdad, a 55-year-old man, took his own life by shooting himself on Tuesday, May 2, in Muhmand Dara district, Nangarhar province. According to sources, Rahimdad’s suicide was attributed to economic problems, while the Taliban claimed it was due to psychological issues.
Abdul Wahid, a 13-year-old boy, took his own life in Kapisa province. Local sources reported that he used a hunting rifle to shoot himself on Sunday, April 30, in the village of “Deh Bulbul Olya,” which is located in the “Hesa-e Dowom” district of Kapisa province. The motive for his suicide remains unknown, but poverty and destitution have been identified as factors contributing to suicide cases in the province of Kapisa.
According to the recorded events in the Hasht-e Subh Daily, a young man named Arif committed suicide in the Shadal area of Spin Ghar district, Nangarhar province. He took his own life by shooting himself around 10:00 PM on Friday night. Additionally, another young man named Mohammad Jan in Bamyan province ended his life. On Monday night, April 24, in the Khwaja Roshnayi village of the Foladi area, he committed suicide. The reason for these incidents is not yet clear, but severe poverty has been cited as a factor in previous suicide cases in this province.
In the past month, there have been cases of suicide involving children, including a 15-year-old boy who took his own life in Badakhshan province. Local sources reported to the Hasht-e Subh Daily that this child ended his life on Monday, May 22, in the fifth division of Faizabad City, the capital of Badakhshan. The reason for his suicide has not been determined yet.
Poverty and destitution have long been challenges faced by the country’s citizens. Recently, a man named Abdullah in the Khwaja Murad area of Tulak district, Ghor province, took his own life due to poverty and economic problems. He ended his life on Tuesday night, May 23.
Adding to the series of suicide incidents in the country, a man in the village of Khan, Rodat district of Nangarhar province, tragically took his own life. According to sources who informed the Hasht-e Subh Daily on Wednesday, May 24, the man ended his life by throwing himself into a river. His decision was driven by severe economic problems.
According to a report by the Hasht-e Subh Daily, 16 individuals in the country have taken their own lives for various reasons during the current month of Hamal (March-April) this year. Combining this with the previous report, a total of 37 individuals have committed suicide in various provinces of the country over the past two months. These figures indicate a significant increase compared to the same period last year when a total of 79 individuals across the country, including 41 women and 38 men, took their own lives. It is worth mentioning that these numbers, compiled by the Hasht-e Subh Daily, may not capture the full extent of the issue, as actual statistics could be higher but remain unreported.
Suicide is prevalent in all countries globally, and in Afghanistan, it is largely attributed to poverty and violence. The country has witnessed an increase in suicide rates following the implementation of strict policies and prohibitions by the Taliban. Additionally, after the collapse of the Republic regime, many people from different social classes fled the country, leading to widespread job losses. The United Nations has identified Afghanistan as currently experiencing the world’s most significant humanitarian and economic crisis.
