Burnings Atributed To Forced/Early Marriages

Marzia, 15, rests in the burn ward after having her burns cleaned. The painful but necessary ritual is perfomed daily by the nurse as part of the recovery process. Marzia, who was married at age 9, set herself on fire because she was afraid of her husbands reaction to her breaking the family television set. 

A rose is held up to the face of Rokhshana who was near death at Herat Public Hospital. She set herself on fire when her husband, who left her to go to Iran 14 years earlier, demanded she return to him. She was only 10 when they were married.

Fauza sits naked while waiting for new dressings to be put on her burns. She denies burning herself on purpose, which is often the case for fear of being an embarassment or being treated poorly by hospital staff, but relatives confirm that that she self-immolated. NGOs in Herat Province have reported a sharp rise in the number of young wives who douse themselves in kerosene and burn themselves in an effort to get away from their husbands.

Marzia, 15, screams in pain while having her burns cleaned. The painful but necessary ritual is perfomed daily by the nurse as part of the recovery process. Marzia, who was married at age 9, set herself on fire because she was afraid of her husbands reaction to her breaking the family television set.

Female family members mourn outside the home of Rokhshana in the village of Yakhdaan the day of the funeral, as cultural traditions forbids women to attend funerals. Rokhshana set herself on fire when her husband, whom she married at age 10, demanded she return to him after 14 years abroad. She died in the hospital from her wounds.

Girls wait to have their bandages removed and their burns cleaned in Herat, Afghanistan, Sept. 1, 2003. In one week, the burn ward in Herat, Afghanistan saw two new patients enter the ward after self immolating and then die from their wounds. 

Girls wait to have their bandages removed and their burns cleaned in Herat, Afghanistan, Sept. 1, 2003. In one week, the burn ward in Herat, Afghanistan saw two new patients enter the ward after self immolating and then die from their wounds. 

Men pray before burying Rokhshana, Afghanistan, May 25, 2005. Cultural traditions forbid women to attend burials, as they are too emotional at the scene. Rokhshana set herself on fire when her husband, who left her to go to Iran 14 years earlier, demanded she return to him. She died in the hospital from her wounds.

 SOURCE: all VII photos taken by Stephanie Sinclair
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