Abortion in Afghanistan: 'My mother used a stone to crush my stomach'

When Bahara was four months pregnant, she went to a hospital in Kabul seeking an abortion. "We are not allowed," a doctor told her. "If this is discovered, we could all go to prison."

Abortion in Afghanistan is illegal, and assisting or undergoing one can lead to imprisonment. Yet Bahara, 35, felt she had no choice. Her unemployed husband demanded she "find a solution," as he did not want another daughter. "We can barely feed our daughters," she said. "If it were a boy, he could study and work." Opportunities for girls are extremely limited, with women barred from secondary education, universities, and most jobs since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

Following a neighbours advice, Bahara bought a herbal tea for the equivalent of two dollars, made from a mallow plant that induces uterine contractions. The resulting bleeding forced her back to the hospital. "I told them I had fallen, but they knew I was lying. They were angry but didnt report me," she said. Doctors surgically removed the fetus, leaving her feeling extremely weak.

Ethnobotanist Guadalupe Maldonado Andrade from California State Polytechnic University warns that the plant Bahara used is highly dangerous, with the potential to cause organ damage and severe bleeding.

Baharas case is not isolated. AFP spoke with other women who risked their lives to terminate pregnancies. Nesa took toxic tablets, while Mariam crushed her stomach with a heavy stone. Out of a dozen women interviewed, only five agreed to speak on condition of anonymity.

In Afghanistans conservative society, fear of stigma and arrest deters women from seeking medical help. Official statistics are scarce due to the taboo surrounding abortion. Sharafat Zaman of the Afghan health ministry claimed only "a few" women are affected. The Taliban, adhering to strict Islamic law, have maintained harsh abortion restrictions since 2021. Authorities now monitor hospitals closely, scaring doctors and pushing women toward secret, dangerous procedures.

Doctors report a rise in miscarriages since the Talibans return, which may mask illegal abortions. International medical organizations confirm the trend, noting that access to contraception has also diminished. A UN source said fewer than half of Afghan women can obtain modern contraceptives due to budget cuts and the closure of family planning services. Maternal and infant mortality rates remain among the highest in the world, worsened by bans on training midwives and nurses.

Abortion is theoretically allowed if a womans life is at risk, but this is rarely approved. The Taliban view abortion as "taking a life," according to health ministry officials.

Before the Taliban regained power, abortions were more accessible through NGOs. Now, doctors fear inspections and women avoid hospitals, attempting risky home procedures. Some pharmacies sell misoprostol without prescriptions, but prices and inconsistent access create further obstacles. Nesa, a mother of nine, resorted to malaria drugs obtained from a pharmacy, which caused severe bleeding and unconsciousness. Hospital staff removed the fetus while keeping her situation confidential.

Mariam, 22, faced similar risks. Following an affair, her mother attempted a home abortion by placing a heavy stone on her stomach. The procedure failed and caused severe pain and depression.

Globally, only one-third of women live in countries where abortion is available on demand. Illegal abortions cause an estimated 39,000 deaths annually. Health workers in Kabul and Nangarhar express frustration and helplessness at being unable to safely assist women in need.

Analysis: The Hidden Crisis of Unsafe Abortions in Afghanistan

The story of Bahara highlights a broader, urgent public health issue: Afghan women face extreme risks when seeking abortions due to strict legal restrictions. Despite the theoretical allowance when a woman's life is at risk, in practice the law is rigidly enforced, pushing women toward unsafe home methods.

Healthcare providers are trapped between legal enforcement and medical ethics. Many women, like Bahara, resort to herbal remedies or dangerous physical interventions, often resulting in severe bleeding, organ damage, or psychological trauma. Hospitals become the last line of defense, but fear of reporting and Taliban oversight discourages timely care.

International organizations and UN sources indicate that access to contraception has dropped sharply, exacerbating unwanted pregnancies. With bans on midwife training and limited healthcare infrastructure, maternal and infant mortality rates remain critically high. This situation reflects both systemic gaps and the immediate human cost of restrictive abortion laws.

Doctors in Kabul report rising miscarriage cases, which may obscure unsafe abortion attempts. Pharmacies offer some options, but inconsistent availability and high prices leave women vulnerable. The cases of Nesa and Mariam illustrate the dangerous extremes women are forced to endure, showing that the legal framework does not prevent abortion—it simply endangers women further.

Afghanistan’s abortion restrictions, coupled with social stigma and economic pressures, have created a hidden but deadly public health crisis. Urgent attention and international support are needed to provide safe reproductive care and prevent further loss of life.

Sources:

• Abortion in Afghanistan: 'My mother crushed my stomach with a stone'