NEW YORK TIMES: MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan — On the surface, the Gul sisters seemed to have it all: they were young, beautiful, educated and well off, testing the bounds of conservative Afghan traditions with fitted jeans, makeup and cellphones.
But Nabila Gul, 17, a bright and spunky high school student, pushed it too far. She fell in love.
Her older sister, Fareba, 25, alarmed at the potential shame and consequences of Nabila’s pursuit of a young man outside of family channels, tried to intervene. Their argument that November day ended in grief: side-by-side coffins, both girls dead within hours of each other after consuming rat poison stolen from their father’s grain closet… (more)
EDITOR: There is significance in the wave of female suicides in Afghanistan. Tragically, it is collateral damage for women beginning to be allowed to be educated and have more liberties.
