Afghanistan: Rise in Female Kunduz Prison Inmates

http://www.tolonews.com/

Kunduz province prison officials on Friday said that there has been a twofold increase in the number of female prisoners compared to last year. According to Gen. Shah Mir, the Director of the Kunduz provincial prison, two years ago 20 females were imprisoned, but now the number has increased to nearly 50. Gen. Mir cited illiteracy, poverty and domestic violence as one of the reasons behind the increase in the number of female inmates in Kunduz. "The crime rate is increasing day by day, last year we had 16 female prisoners. Unfortunately, this year the number has risen to 47," said Gen. Mir. Prison officials said that among the 47 female prisoners that are serving jail time, there is a diversity of criminal charges, including, but not limited to, murder and kidnapping. Gen. Mir said that 20 children who have reached seven years of age belonging to the female inmates have been transferred to a special children's home where they are educated and receive vocational training. However, he said many more children below seven are still living with their mothers in the prison. Meanwhile, the female prisoners told reporters that they want to seek pardons for the sake of their children's futures. "I am imprisoned with my children and I request that the President pardon my sentence for the sake of my children," begged one of the female prisoners, imprisoned for murdering her husband. "I have six children and for their future please release me. I committed a crime and I won't do it again," said another prisoner. Emphasising the efforts put in by the provincial authorities to work with the prisoners, officials of Kunduz prison said that professional training is being done so that the female prisoners can earn a livelihood after their release. Officials told reporters that the prisoners are receiving training in tailoring and carpet weaving. Presently, 825 convicts are imprisoned at the Kunduz prison and among them 47 are female prisoners.