Burning Hearts - Afghanistan

Dec 2004
Setting themselves on fire is the only perceived means of protest for many women in Afghanistan. Cases of self immolation are on the increase.

Idemah's body is covered in raw burns. She's so badly burnt that doctors are sure she will die. "It is God's will. It was my destiny." Like all the other self immolation victims in Herat's hospital, Idemah is too ashamed to admit what really happened. She claims she was burnt in a domestic accident. But doctors know she tried to kill herself because of family problems. Doctors here treat up to 30 women a month. Their pain is intolerable. "The only people that burn themselves are women and girls," explains Dr Fraidoon Asfali. "No man will burn himself because they can get their rights. But women cannot get their rights so they burn themselves." Others burn themselves to escape forced marriages. In a country where women are frequently oppressed, self immolation is a desperate attempt to escape. But there are hopes that the new government will address the problem. As Dr Aziz explains, "When women understand that they have rights, then this will stop."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• self
• immolation
• womens
• rights
• Afghanistan
• Taliban
• Justice
• Burns
• Equality
• news
• documentary
• current affairs
• journeyman
• journeyman pictures

[heavenseek]

Where are the hip, savvy, badass, ballbusting Western Feminist chicks? WHERE???!!!!

Come on! Take on a REAL Patriarchy!

[ohsnapitsnd]

these woman NEED TO SET THOSE SCUM MEN ON FIRE. to be honest, they arent men at all they are FOOLISH BOYS THAT NEED TO BE TORTURED. AND IF YOU DISAGREE WITH ME THEN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! VIVA LA AMERICA LAND OF THE FREE.

[xNeekyx]

After they set themselves on FIRE they can't even say why! That right there says how awesome their culture is...

[shcnoozlebop]

@groundhog2008 it happens world-wide; it's RAMPANT in afghanistan. there is a major difference: shar'ia law allows men to hit their wives. in the united states, it's FAR less common and against the law. the vast majority of men in the united states acknowledge violence towards women as a bad thing. because in the united states, people believe to abuse someone smaller or less capable than you is weak.

[shcnoozlebop]

a person that doesn't learn, make anything of themselves, socialise or have any influence on the world around them has no soul.

[ejzen11]

Watch here in youtube "Muslims Demographics"....

Fast

[jagenaught]

Well believe what you want to believe, what you're saying is nonsense. How can one of the most revered scholars in Islam claim that. Unless you can quote directly and define exactly what satanic verses mean then come up with something concrete. Quote the verses, not you doctored copy of a hadith. I doubt you can read Arabic. You're just pathetic aren't u. U mean 2 say womoen don't get battered in England. You're just meddling without any clue. U don't as much as u think.

[Msunbird02]

@jagenaught Instead of ranting off on tangents, you could try to stay on topic.

[Msunbird02]

@jagenaught CONT... Islamic evidence proves different versions of the Qur'an are used around the world today. They’re different in basic letters, diacritical dots and vowels that change the meanings of words and sentences. The different Qur'ans also have a different understanding of Basmalah accepting it as part of the Qur'an while others don’t.

[Msunbird02]

@jagenaught CONT... 5. Satan always throws something in with a prophet’s words (Sura 22:52) then God has to “cancel” it out. It’s why different sources record Sura 53:19-20 originally said intercession of 3 idol goddesses (“high flying cranes”) was okay. These are "The Satanic Verses" that were changed. Documented proof is in Ibn Ishaq, Wakidi, Ibn Sa'd and Tabari. I