[Updated Monday 11:30 a.m.] Afghan police now say that while the woman's throat was slashed, it was not fully cut off - and therefore was not technically a "beheading."
[Updated Thursday 12:16 p.m.] A young woman had her head chopped off for refusing to prostitute herself - and one of the killers was her mother-in-law, police say.
The other was the mother-in-law's cousin. Â And both admit it, according to Afghan police.
To most people, the slaying of 20-year-old Mah Gul is unimaginable.
But it's just "one more incident that highlights the violent atmosphere that women and girls face in Afghanistan and the region," Suzanne Nossel, executive director of Amnesty International USA, said Thursday.
The killing happened Sunday in Herat province, in southwest Afghanistan along the Iranian border.
Gul's husband is a baker. Â When he left home for work, his mother and her cousin tried to force the young wife into prostitution, said Noorthan Mikvad, spokesman for Herat police.
When she wouldn't do it, they beheaded her, he said.
In a statement, Nossel said women and girls in the region "are raped, killed, forced into marriage in childhood, prevented from obtaining an education and denied their sexual and reproductive rights. Until basic human rights are guaranteed ... these horrible abuses will continue to be committed."
The U.S. State Department says some "Afghan women and girls are subjected to forced prostitution, forced marriages – including through forced marriages in which husbands force their wives into prostitution, and where they are given by their families to settle debts or disputes."
Some families even knowingly sell their children into forced prostitution, the State Department said, "including for bacha baazi – where wealthy men use groups of young boys for social and sexual entertainment."
Herat police say their investigation found that Gul's husband and father-in-law were not involved in her killing.
CNN has extensively reported on the abuse of girls and women in Afghanistan, a nation where under Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001, women were banned from classrooms, politics or employment. Women who wanted to leave home had to be escorted by a male relative and were forced to wear burqas. Those who disobeyed were publicly beaten. In some parts of Afghanistan in the late 1990s, locals were encouraged to blacken the windows on their homes so women inside could not be seen.
The Afghan government, including a woman running for the presidency of the country, has tried to make it relatively easier for young women to go school. In 2004, girls were formally guaranteed a right to an education under the Afghan constitution.
Yet major problems persist and girls are in extraordinary danger in part of the country. They are terrorized walking to school. In 2009 in Peshawar, Pakistan, near Afghanistan, the Taliban issued an official edict mandating that no more girls should be able to go to school. That was after the Taliban had regained their stake in the control in the region after the 2001 invasion.
Girls and women's families sometimes abuse and kill them. In July, the Taliban executed a woman in public, justifying the killing by saying she had committed adultery.
In 2011, people around the world were appalled to learn about a then-13-year-old named Sahar Gul who had been married off to a member of the Afghan Army. Sahar said her husband raped her, and enraged that she didn't immediately conceive, her in-laws locked her in a basement for months. They tortured Sahar with hot pokers and ripped out her nails. Ultimately, she said, they wanted to force her into prostitution as punishment for failing her obligation as a woman.
Her face made famous on Time's cover, young Aesha had her nose and ears hacked off for running away from her husband's house. Aesha was brought to the United States. Her life continues to be hugely challenging as she's forever emotionally scared by the abuse she suffered.
This is a different culture, who are we to judge?
Old and non-starter of an argument. Barbarism is barbarism and human beings know evil and are free to judge.
Human rights trumps culture, ya idjit.
There are certain rights and wrongs that are independent of culture. It is intuitive to human nature that human life should be respected and innocent people left along to live their lives. I supposed you were comfortable with the Nazi culture of trying to eliminate a race of people.
Are you serious???
we are humans with morals and values that include life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness....so yes we can judge! Just because it is their "culture" does not make it right. Terror is not a culture...it is a learned behaviour and because MEN are the ones who are controlling it....no one stands up for the weak or abused! Your apathy towards this situation makes me wonder if you would have felt the same way during the holocoust!
Eric, the irony went right over their heads.
Culture? that is for civilized humans, these creatures are stone aged barbarians.
C'mon people, let's pay attention to the real war on women the one by republicans. Romney want to make jobs available so women actually have to work. I say put them all on welfare.
Come on. Kennedy is the only one with a confirmed kill in the war against women.
There's no war on women. Women have it better here in America than anywhere else...yet they treat men like a commodity.
As long as I can abort any hinderance to my lifestyle, you have my vote!!!
What is the Spirit of the Bayonet ? and what makes the Green Grass Grow ?
So does the husband get to kill his mom and her cousin in like an honor killing or something now?
Now that was my same thought...if the husband found out his wife was being prost itued, would he have killed her because it caused dishonor?
What the heck is up with these antiquated notions of honor?
This poor woman died protecting her honor; her mil killed her...why?
I know! Just when you think you understand their convoluted sense of "honor" something like this comes along and they act like "So what? It's perfectly within my rights as the MIL to turn this girl into a pro on the street corner." And what is the hubby supposed to do now? Does mom have to take the place of the wife? eeweeeee! I am never going to Afghanistan. Ever!
The family can sell woman's honoro for profit since she is their property. But the woman has to keep her honr since she is not considered the sole owner of it, so to speak. The family owns her honor. If she loses it by her own will she dishonors the family. But the family can sell it, if they want to . The bottom line – a woman is a property and doesnt' ahve a free will.
Craxy, I know.
Sure glad we spilled our blood for these 3rd century people. Very Sad.
Ooooraah!
Yeah, me too. I thought Obama was going to get us out of Afghanistan, but I guess he's sitting there with his fingers crossed behind his back and thinking, "Well, I am, but I didn't say when." That would explain why, a few months ago, we signed an agreement with the Afghan government to remain for 10 years. And what happens in 10 years when they are still just as screwed up? Do we stay for another 10?
What we should have done in Afghanistan back in 2001-2 is to have gone in there, killed everyone that we thought needed killing, bombed everything that we thought needed bombing, all with a very, very heavy hand, and then left – leaving it to serve as an example of what happens if you mess with us.
Instead, we're still there, still losing the lives of our courageous service members, for a place that can't be fixed because it doesn't want to be. It isn't too late to do what we should have done 10 years ago, but neither Obama nor Romney have the stones to do it. So, here we sit, with more body bags pretty much every day.
@Jocho Johnson – yeah, who would have imagined that we should have supported a Soviet invasion, but you're probably right. The Russians, at least, had no problem with killing those who needed killing.
Hey there Devil Dog, maybe we fight over there because the Taliban provided a safe haven for Al Qaeda, who then killed more than 2,000 of our fellow Americans in the worst terror attack our country has ever experienced.
I sure hope you're out by now. Leave the fighting to those of us who are still in.
Can't wait to see what awaits that quagmire once ISAF in its entirety pulls out, of course Americans will still be there for the next 20 years.
I guess If you don't give Head you loss yours in the Afghan culture.
their is no war on women coming from the gop. you just like that little catch phrase and use it ad naseum. this is what a war on women really looks like you idiot.
Yet the liberals, who hate religion, continue to defend these people. They treat women like dirt, but the liberals continue to defend Muslims. Part of a long list of liberal hypocrisy.
Momma had a baby and its head popped off!
+++pops head off dandelion+++
There have been times when I have wanted to read up on Islam so I could understand the violence. Then I read a story like this and know in my heart that I could never have an understanding.
Maybe you should try to read a little more so you wouldn't be so ignorant. The story is in no way related to Islam as it is just a few sick people. Once you read the Quran and teachings you will see the truth and why so many Americans and Europeans have converted to Islam in the midst of 9/11 and these wars.
Mihas
Yea right. Mohammad was a violent swine pedophile who mated with pigs sheeps and goats on a regular basis. I just want a cartoon of mohammad performing oral on a pig while he take a camel in his anal cavity. that would be amusing.
I guess this gives a new meaning to "giving head".
True, but did she swallow? 😉
I think they used an exacto knife. That or just a sharpened stone.
Neanderthals!
Don't insult the Neanderthals..lol. These people are kretens.
Article clearly says Afghanistan not Crete. R E A D
That is "cretins"
Dont' insult the cretins. These people are simians.
There’s no stoppen the cretins from hoppen. One, two, three, four cretins gonna hop some more.
That's CRETIN - with a "C." Takes one to know one.
I see that other people have already mentioned this but if you're going to do a proper insult, learn how to spell. It's "cretins".
but wait! I thought you wanted to keep us women since we get paid so little compared to men? Don't you want to review your binders & spare a few of us so we can do work for little pay?
You should be well prepared then since Obama signed the NDAA.
Sorry Mitt... you either missed your last meds or doubled down. The real dictator is the Neo National Socialist himself... the one.... the only...... brotha Obama.... more free stuff for the peasants.
What do you mean, almost here? Obviously you havnt ever been ticketed for merely being poor and sleeping. They call that decriminalization in California, because saying it is an infraction they can then deny you equal defense with attorney, where they would actually have to prove you were commuting a crime for merely sleeping.
I really like the part where the heads of gays are chopped off. That's very appealing. The rest of that stuff is pretty good also.. This is too good to be true. Your lying.
Sounds GREAT. Say the first part again!!! PLEASE.
How about we start preemptively. We can start with your head first.
When you say things like that it does not help Obama. It does not help Democrats, and it does not help America. Why can we not have a civilized discussion of the issues that we face as a country. If you have a good idea, then put it forth, and we will debate it on it's merits. Calling names, and making ridiculous statements do not help anything. Grow Up, you might even make a decent adult!
Wow! You're such a troll. How much did Obama pay you to sit there and post those little things that pop into your little head? Or, did he just let you crawl farther up the big "O". What an honor. (sigh)
Mitt Rommel!
POTW!
Completely agree with the neanderthal assessment. Their devolution to a caveman past will hopefully lead to a similar path of extinction.
Darwin, you ought to read up on the latest genetic and scientific research regarding Neanderthals. As a distinct branch of humanity, they are no longer with us. However, if you are of European decent, up to 10 percent of your genetic heritage may be from our cousins, the Neanderthals. Research the facts. In any case, they were not the stupid, lumbering morons of popular fiction. They were intelligent, competent, creative people of an earlier age.
Do you people even care about the condition of these third world countries? You are so selfish and self-obsessed. These Afghan women are suffering and you are asking if they cut off her head with a stone? I'm disgusted.
Proving yet again, that you do not have to be intelligent to use the internet.
And you are probably one of the sickos who claim us Republicans make those kinds of sick remarks that you flaming liberal just made. You make me sick.
Your post in itself makes you no different.
THAT IS FUNNY MITT ROMMEL BUT AFTER YOU' RE FINNISHED WHO'S GONNA FIGHT THE SYRIANS?
>Sinfully Yours
"I think they used an exacto knife. That or just a sharpened stone.
Neanderthals!"
I think Neanderthals never did such a cruel thing to chop off a femail's head.
neanderthals were almost human, that cant be said for these bowel movements.
Every life in that country is not worth a scratch on an American soldier
Putz
To: mitt rommel You fit very well into that last catagory.
aah. must be fun to get on a soapbox .. Maybe you should first read up on domestic violence here in good old usa .
Your mom called, she said its time to move out of the basement and get a job. Oh wait, you elected Obama I forgot, no jobs.
You might as well not have gotten her anyway! She may have asked you to get out of your little world, and listen to the world out there.
You are aware that the NAZI's were in fact Socialists right? Are you equally aware that liberalism is FAR closer to Socialism then Conservatism will ever be? By that ration, you should be yelling your SEIG HEIL's to Obama rather than Romney.
That is perhaps the most ignorant post I have ever read. In no way did your statement reflect any form of rational and intelligence that would compare a dictator who was imperialistic by nature that felt a German presence around the world to dominate and control all to our president even though he is far from perfect. You have made the people who have read your posting dumber . May God have mercy on your soul.
That's not fair to the neanderthals.
Anybody for staying in Afghanistan after 2014?
sounds like a great country
The real war on woman that the Left will never care about.
The Left's only important criteria in judging a country or culture is how anti-American is it, with more being better.