Jezebel: Afghanistan

Your Morning Cry: Dad Comes Home From Afghanistan and Surprises His Daughter on Her Birthday

Cassie Murdoch — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST

Afghan Man Murders His Wife for Giving Birth to a Girl

Cassie Murdoch — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:55:00 EST

In a truly awful act of violence, an Afghan man strangled his wife to death after she gave birth to a second daughter instead of the son he had wanted. The 22-year-old woman, whose name was Estorai, had previously told her family members that her husband was unhappy with the birth of their first daughter and had threatened to kill her if she gave birth to another girl. More »

The Heart-Wrenching Tale of Some Marines Who Tried to Save a Puppy in Afghanistan

Cassie Murdoch — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:00:00 EST

Ladies and gentleman, grab your tissues because this is one emotional roller coaster of an animal rescue story. Okay, here we go... While stationed in Afghanistan, some marines were on patrol when a man walked up and handed them a box with a tiny puppy inside. He was only about 10 days old and clinging to life. The marines, God bless them, nursed the puppy, whom they named Bill, back to health. More »

Abused Afghan Girl Speaks, Wants Her Horrid In-Laws Jailed

Margaret Hartmann — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:20:00 EST

Sahar Gul was so horrifically abused that two weeks after she was rescued from her in-laws' basement, photos of her injuries are still hard to look at. The 15-year-old's hair and fingernails are missing, her face is swollen, and she looks weak and malnourished. Yet, her husband's parents and his sister, who've been arrested, all insist that they didn't do anything to her. Gul isn't doing very well in the hospital, but she briefly spoke out, insisting that her in-laws are the ones who hurt her, and she wants them to be punished. More »

Afghan Girl Escaped Months Ago, But Was Sent Back To Torturers

Margaret Hartmann — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:32:00 EST

Afghan officials claimed to be shocked and appalled like the rest of the world when they learned that 15-year-old Sahar Gul was held in her in-laws' basement for the past seven months while they starved and tortured her. However, sources now say that Gul actually managed to escape the house at one point, but she was returned to the home by local authorities, who are accustomed to looking the other way when it comes to crimes against women. More »

15-Year-Old Afghan Girl Tortured By In-Laws

Margaret Hartmann — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:58:00 EST

As if the recent report that an Afghan rape victim was jailed for adultery and pressured to marry her attacker wasn't awful enough, now there's another horrifying story drawing attention to the plight of women in the country. Afghan authorities say they've rescued a 15-year-old girl who was kept in her in-laws basement for the past six months and severely tortured because she resisted when they tried to force her into prostitution. More »

Afghan Rape Victim Freed, May Not Have To Marry Attacker

Margaret Hartmann — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:15:00 EST

Two weeks after being pardoned by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Gulnaz, who was convicted of adultery after being raped, has been released from jail. It was initially reported that Gulnaz would have to marry her attacker as a condition of her release, but now it seems she won't be forced to go through with it. Though, she's still under tremendous pressure to marry the man to legitimize their daughter and prevent violence from their families. More »

Afghan Woman Freed From Jail So She Can Marry Her Rapist

Margaret Hartmann — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:17:00 EST

After lobbying from international groups, an Afghan woman who was raped by a relative and given a 12-year jail sentence has been pardoned by President Hamid Karzai. The idea that rape victims are being jailed for adultery is already sickening, but brace yourself because it gets worse: She's only being released because she's agreed to marry the man who raped her. More »

Afghan Woman Opens Nation's First Bowling Alley

Margaret Hartmann — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:14:00 EDT

You've probably become less enchanted with the bowling alley since the days when it was the place to hold your birthday party, but the Afghan people aren't taking their first lanes for granted. Meena Rahmani sold off some of her land to raise the $1 million needed to build The Strikers, a 12-lane bowling alley. Rahmani was inspired to build the center when she returned to Kabul after studying abroad and found there were limited options for family entertainment. "Here, on our days off, we walk aimlessly in the streets," says businessman and fledgling bowler Navid Sediqi. "This is so much better. Finally, a bit of excitement on our days off." In the month it's been open The Strikers has attracted mostly men, but Rahmani says more women are coming with their families, and she hopes to expand to other provinces if it catches on. More »

Soldier Stages Elaborate Romcom-style Ruse to Surprise Wife After Returning From Duty

Erin Gloria Ryan — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 17:32:18 EDT

Afghan Women Take To The Streets And Skies

Irin Carmon — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:02:09 EDT

Two separate developments show Afghan women taking charge of their own futures, apart from the usual (and unfortunately real) representations of violence and victimization we usually see. More »

Norway Is Best Place To Be A Mom; U.S. Lags

Anna North — Tue, 03 May 2011 09:30:00 EDT

A worldwide study shows that the best place to give birth is Norway. Afghanistan comes in last — but the United States isn't doing too well either. More »

What To Wear To A Toga Party In Kabul

Kim Barker — Mon, 02 May 2011 14:40:11 EDT

Kabul was a fishbowl and not conducive to actual dating, even though the foreign women were vastly outnumbered by the foreign men. Our attractiveness rate skyrocketed accordingly. A ten in Kabul became a five as soon as she walked off the plane in Dubai. We were Kabul Cute, we were Mission Pretty. But still, the men here rarely asked the women out on actual dates. Most of the attempts at mating involved bad tongue action and groping near or inside the bathrooms at L'Atmosphère, the French restaurant that had turned into Kabul's major watering hole. More »

Will Alleged Three Cups Of Tea Fabrications Make A Difference?

Irin Carmon — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:12:29 EDT

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60 Minutes and bestselling author Jon Krakauer have raised questions about the writing and charity work of Three Cups Of Tea author Greg Mortenson, whose focus has been on educating girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Will the millions of people who bought Mortenson's book and supported his charity, the Central Asia institute, care? More »

George W. Bush: Stay In Afghanistan For Women's Sake

Irin Carmon — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:27:10 EDT

Whoever is minding George W. Bush's legacy these days sort of knows what they're doing: Here he is with Laura on Greta Van Susteren's show, talking about a conference for the rights of women. Just like Hillary Clinton! Sort of. And from a distance, Bush even has the added advantage of looking like a bleeding heart next to the nakedly evil Republican congressional leadership. More »

Fighting Maternal Mortality, Backing Down Somewhat On Afghan Women

Irin Carmon — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:05:24 EST

Yesterday, Hillary Clinton announced the Saving Lives At Birth Grand Challenge a joint initiative on maternal health with USAID and the Gates foundation. Kind of awkward about USAID recently backing off women's rights provisions in Afghanistan, a major Clinton priority, with the regional director telling The Washington Post, "The women's issue is one where we need hardheaded realism...But if we become unrealistic and overfocused . . . we get ourselves in trouble." More »

Know Your Veils: A Guide To Head Coverings

Anne Peterson — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:09:00 EST

Next time you are having dinner with a Bahraini dignitary, don't embarrass yourself by confusing the Queen's abaya with a burqa. More »

Elle Turkey Shoots Fashion Spread In Ruined Armenian City

Jenna Sauers — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 17:07:00 EST

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In 1064, Turkish armies laid siege to Ani, a bustling, largely Armenian city of 200,000. They were ordered to destroy Ani, and kill everyone they found. In 2011, Elle Turkey used the ruins left behind for a fashion story. More »

A New Risk To Women In Afghanistan: TV

Irin Carmon — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:45:33 EST

Activists are worried about an Afghani television host who has been accusing women's shelters of promoting prostitution. Says a female chief prosecutor, "Our government wants to talk with the Taliban about peace and no one is talking about women's rights." More »

Justice For Time's Mutilated Cover Subject

Irin Carmon — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:14:00 EST

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The father-in-law of Bibi Aisha, an Afghan child bride who was brutally disfigured for running away, has been arrested in connection with that crime. Sadly, that fact is more unusual than her treatment. More »

Another Something To Be Thankful For

Katie Baker — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 16:45:00 EST

AFGHANISTAN - Lance Corporal Luz Lopez, 21, a USMarine with the FET (Female Engagement Team) holds an Afghan baby. There are 48 women presently working along the volatile front lines of the war in Afghanistan. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images) More »

Thankful For Her Service

Erin Gloria Ryan — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST

HELMAND, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 25: U.S. Marine Warrant Officer Samantha Munn from Eldon, Missouri serves up some turkey in the dining facility for the annual Thanksgiving meal at Camp Leatherneck. (Photo by Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)

A Gorgeous Harvest Gathering

Jessica Coen — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:58:00 EST

[Herat, Afghanistan, November 8: Women separate stigmas from saffron crocuses during the harvest. Around 2500 farmers in eight provinces are working on saffron farms for export mostly to India and some European countries.]

A Little Beauty In The Streets Of Kabul

Margaret Hartmann — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 09:53:00 EDT

[Kabul, October 17: An Afghan girl selling chewing gum stands next to a local beauty parlor waiting for customers. Image via Getty.]

Afghan Girls Focus On Education

Margaret Hartmann — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:32:00 EDT

[Afghanistan, October 13: Farista, 8, watches her mother teach while student Zahara, 13, listens at Markaz high school. In the peaceful province of Bamiyan girls can attend school without any fears, unlike many in the Taliban-infested areas. Image via Getty.]

Time's Afghan Cover Girl Gets A New Nose

Sadie Stein — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:22:00 EDT

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The young Afghan woman who appeared on the cover of Time after having her nose and ears cut off by the Taliban More »

In Afghanistan, Some Girls Play A Different Tune

Margaret Hartmann — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:23:00 EDT

[Kabul, September 26: Marjan Fidaye, 11, gets violin instruction from Allegra Boggess, an American volunteer at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music. Afghanistan's only music high school opened in June with 150 students, including 27 girls. Image via Getty.]

Woman Defies Taliban, And Maybe The Facts, To Make Her Movie

Irin Carmon — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:00:15 EDT

The only movie made in Afghanistan this year was directed by a woman, who says she cast herself when the original actress's feet were cut off by the Taliban. At the premiere in Kabul, some were slightly more skeptical. More »

A Heartwarming Moment From Graduation Day

Margaret Hartmann — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 09:35:00 EDT

[Kabul, September 23: An Afghan National Army officer gets a hug from an American soldier after her graduation ceremony. Over the last 20 weeks, eight U.S. Army women mentored the first class of 29 female officers. Image via Getty.]

Free Concert Sounds Even Sweeter In Afghanistan

Margaret Hartmann — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:10:00 EDT

[Afghanistan, September 21: Singer, composer, and rights activist Farhad Darya reaches out to the crowd while performing at a peace day event. Under Taliban rule, women weren't allowed to go outside by themselves, let alone a concert. Image via Getty.]

Dressing Afghan Girls As Boys Sets Them Free — For A While

Anna North — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:56:00 EDT

In Afghanistan, families sometimes dress their daughters as boys to increase their freedom and social value. The stories of these children are both disturbing and inspiring. More »

Afghan Girls Poisoned For Going To School

Anna North — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:12:00 EDT

In case you needed more evidence that things in Afghanistan are going from bad to worse, fifty-nine students at a girls' school were hospitalized earlier today because they were attacked with poisoned gas. More »

Taliban Resumes Stonings With Execution Of Couple

Anna North — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:40:00 EDT

In what has to be the most disturbing story of the weekend, an Afghan couple were executed Sunday in the first public stoning since the Taliban fell from power in 2001. Their crime: eloping. More »

Mutilated Time Cover Star Getting Reconstructive Surgery

Irin Carmon — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:50:00 EDT

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Aisha, the woman whose mutilated face Time recently used to illustrate the plight of women in Afghanistan, is now in Los Angeles, where she'll get reconstructive surgery thanks to an LA surgeon and his wife's burn-focused foundation. More »

A Visual Introduction To An Afghan Woman's Mutilation

Irin Carmon — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:32:22 EDT

Time's new cover of Aisha, an 18-year-old Afghan woman whose Taliban husband cut off her nose and ears because she ran away from his family's and his abuse, is horrifying, necessary — and a little misleading. More »

An American Woman In Saudi Arabia

Irin Carmon — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EDT

In Afghanistan, a warlord tried to get into a Los Angeles Times foreign correspondent's bed one morning. In Saudi Arabia, reporting while young and female was a bit more complicated. More »

Adorable Marines Rescue Adorable Kittens In Afghanistan; Cuddling Ensues

Sadie Stein — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:28:00 EDT

Yes, we have to do another kitty post. But this one's different, a matter of international interest. News from Afghanistan may be grim, but everyone can find solace in these images of lost or abandoned kittens rescued by U.S. marines. More »

The Secret Sisterhood Of Pregnant War-Zone Journalists

Irin Carmon — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:30:19 EDT

Journalist Elizabeth Rubin stirred controversy by hiding her pregnancy while embedded in Afghanistan. Turns out that female correspondents in Iraq have formed a "sisterhood" around being pregnant and giving birth while covering the war. More »

Bristol Palin: Telling Mom About The Baby Was "Harder Than Labor"

Katy Kelleher — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:40:00 EDT

• In a recent interview, Bristol Palin describes breaking the news about her pregnancy to her mother as being really, really painful. She also has this to say about her role as an advocate for abstinence: More »

Should Women Serve In Combat? Maybe They Already Do

Anna North — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EDT

Both the US and UK militaries are struggling with the question of whether women should be allowed to serve in direct combat roles. But many female soldiers say they already do. More »