Self-Immolation, which is putting oneself on fire, has been the escape route for thousands of Afghan women suffering from domestic violence. Many women say that the self immolation is better than the suffering they went through during their lives. Afghan women are not only using self-immolation as a way of suicide but feel that it is the only way to make more people aware of domestic violence, and the misery they are going through because of it. Last year there were over 22,000 cases of women who were setting themselves on fire, and things are only getting worse this year. Afghan women often use cooking oil or household fuels to commit self-immolation.
The women believe that this is the only way to get the government’s attention, which is probably true. The Afghan government does not care about women’s right and what the Afghan women go through. Many of the officials are corrupt and could care less about the women. Women who would go on trial wouldn’t win unless they had a powerful family. There were laws that were passed but nothing has been done. The aftermath of those who burn themselves are truly horrific, “victims who don't die can sustain burns to more than 50 percent of their bodies and face a painful recovery”. It is just amazing to me that women would rather set themselves on fire than continue to be in an abusive marriage. This is a serious issue, that I am just now hearing about. I don’t know how this issue can be solved because women are not seen as equal to men in Afghanistan; it is hard to see this problem going away. Men do not see anything wrong with beating and abusing their wives, which is extremely unfortunate. I pray that leaders of the women’s rights campaign continue to push for justice.
September 09th, 2011
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