Paktia man gets 25 years in prison for murder of daughter-in-law

A Paktia man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after being found guilty of murdering his daughter-in-law.

Mohammad Rahim, was handed his sentence on Monday by the Paktia Provincial Court for killing his son’s wife Madina.

Rahim mainted throughout the proceedings that he was innocent and that Madina had committed suicide.

However, forensic evidence provided to the court concluded that she had been murdered.

During sentencing the presiding judge gave Rahim leave to appeal his sentencing.

This comes after the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the UN Human Rights Office stated Monday in a report that Afghan women and girls are being failed by the country’s justice system.

The report, titled, “In Search of Justice for Crimes of Violence Against Women and Girls,” examines the response of the justice system and assistance provided to survivors in reported cases of violence against women and girls in the period between September 2018 and February 2020.

The report acknowledged the response by the justice system to violence against women and girls continues to improve, but stated that progress has been limited.

“UNAMA found that only half of the reported crimes reached a primary court, with perpetrators convicted in around 40 percent of all documented cases,” a statement issued by the UN read.