'Immoral conduct' sends many Afghani womens to jail

The number of Afghani women convicted of "immoral conduct" has been growing in the prisons of the country. In May alone, 600 women were convicted under the article, which marked a twofold increase in comparison with 2011.

Most of them were found guilty of escaping from their homes, which was equated to a crime, or adultery, to which Afghani women are often forced. Many of them are exposed to violence at home: they get beaten, coerced into prostitution or receive death threats. The courts of Afghanistan do not consider such cases.

According to human rights activists, despite the law on violence against women that was passed four years ago, victims of domestic violence continue to go to prison, being only victims of forced marriage, beatings and rape.