Scorching East

The problem of women's self-immolations is becoming painful in Herat - Afghanistan's western province on the border with Iran. Afghan women still keenly feels the bitterness of knowing the difference between the freedom of women in other countries and forced their position.

Many women in the region have died from injuries caused himself, finding in this horrible death to get rid of the unbearable life in marriage. Human rights activists and international missions have noted that Afghan women often do not turn to them for help because of social prejudice. Also, they believe that, in fact, self-mutilation and suicide of women are far more widespread than documented cases recorded since only those patients who reached the hospital.

10 ph via bigpicture (PS: Some pictures may be unpleasant to someone, so that anyone with a weak psyche - it is better not to go)

20-year-old Zahra shows the scars from the burns caused myself 5 years ago (Photo by Majid Saeedi / Getty Images)





Workers welfare services say that no matter how the woman was injured - during a suicide attempt or an attack, it is in both cases on the conscience of the local authority, which can not, and does not want to protect their female citizens from forced marriages.

During the 5-year-old Taliban regime women were not allowed to work or study. They could not even leave the house without a male escort, and of course, their body and face had to be hidden under a burqa. After the overthrow of the Taliban regime in the year 2001, women have regained the right to work and learn. But activists say that in many parts of Afghanistan, including Herat, women continue to be in servitude and oppressed position. Many of them see no difference between their existence now and under the Taliban, and desperation is pushing some to a terrible step.

2) Fariba only 11 years old. She sits with her family and shows the scars from burns correspondent who caused themselves a year ago. (Photo by Majid Saeedi / Getty Images)



3) 26-year-old Simagol shows his hands burnt 3 years ago. (Photo by Majid Saeedi / Getty Images)



4) 16-year-old Vasiyeh shows his scars disfigured face and chest. She set fire to herself two years ago. (Photo by Majid Saeedi / Getty Images)



5) Simagol shows her breasts forever disfigured by fire three years ago. Welfare workers say with regret that many women do not turn to them for help because of the centuries-old prejudices. (Photo by Majid Saeedi / Getty Images)



6) 33-year-old Elahel also bears the stamp of the fire. She set fire to herself 10 years ago. Self-immolation Afghan women have expressed their society unbearable pain and protest against the forced position. (Photo by Majid Saeedi / Getty Images)



7) 40-year-old Afizeh shows his hand mutilated when attempting self-immolation 10 years ago. Such incidents often happening now - Afghan women still stung by his oppressed (Photo by Majid Saeedi / Getty Images)



8) 16-year-old Kadidzheh shows the marks of fire 3-year-old, also caused to itself. After the overthrow of the Taliban regime women officially received greater civil rights. But in reality, the situation of many of them has changed little. Herat province is ruled by the iron hand of Ismail Khan - the local despots and military leader. (Photo by Majid Saeedi / Getty Images)



9) The 26-year-old Simagol shows scars from burns 3 years ago. Many women in Herat faced with daily oppression and bullying. They do not see a better life after the overthrow of the Taliban, and it pushes some to suicide. (Photo by Majid Saeedi / Getty Images)



10) 30-year-old Rahimeh demonstrates his burnt 16 years ago chest. Currently in Afghanistan there are several non-governmental organizations helping women, and even have a committee on women's issues, which is constantly trying to draw public attention to this issue. But the snag is that local women are often so crammed with centuries-old prejudices and shackled, even to go out of the house alone, and to seek help can be provided for them unthinkable step. (Photo by Majid Saeedi / Getty Images)



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