A young woman has been found dead in an alleged suicide one day before she was reportedly to be executed by stoning.
Salima, 24, was sentenced to death by stoning last week after the Taliban arrested her with a man, Sirajuddin, who was not her family member. They were both from Dolina district and allegedly ran away from their homes on October 10 to get married. However, they were apprehended by Taliban forces, who shot and killed Sirajuddin.
Salima was sentenced to death by stoning for adultery, which was to take place Friday October 14.
Three local sources in Ghor province, who prefer not to be identified for security reasons, have confirmed to Rukhshana Media that Salima was found dead in an apparent hanging on October 13. She was buried the next day.
One source said that Salima was released on bail on Wednesday October 12 due to the lack of a women’s prison in the district governor’s compound. She went to stay at her brother’s house, which is where she was found dead the next day.
A separate source said there is some speculation that Salima did not hang herself. Rather, they believe that once the stoning sentence became known publicly, the Taliban authorities decided against it, but still wanted to punish Salima so they had her hanged.
Abolfida Ghor Badri, the Taliban’s spokesperson for Ghor’s police chief did not respond to Rukhshana Media’s request for comment regarding Salima’s death. In a Whatsapp message on October 12, he denied reports that Salima was to be executed by stoning.
Kangaroo courts and arbitrary sentencings are on the rise since the Taliban returned to power in mid-August last year.