AZITA, Survivor Statement

Azita, age: 13 years old
Gender: Female
Place of birth: Takhar province
Ethnicity: Tajik
Rape: 25th July 2023 - 5th Aug 2023
Date of death: 10th Aug 2023

I am WITHHELD, mother of Azita.

Azita was my eldest daughter and I have 4 children. My husband WITHHELD was one of the ANA Army officers of the previous government who was martyred in September 2021 when the Taliban attacked Panjshir.

After my husband was martyred, my children and I returned to our village in Takhar Province. I worked daily in people's houses and sometimes my brother-in-law helped us.

The Taliban took our house and told us to leave this place as soon as possible. 

Because we are Tajiks, Persian speakers and my husband has worked with NATO and US forces in the past, is this a crime?

This is our fault. We were born in Tajik family. This is our fault because we helped the Great United States of America. This is our fault, why we helped NATO?

We went to Badakhshan Province to a relative's house. On July 24, 2023, my daughter Azita and some other girls went to town to buy clothes.

Unfortunately, they were kidnapped by the Taliban on the way and the four girls were moved to an unknown place. 

My daughter was raped for 11 days by many Taliban men. Eventually, my daughter was found by one of our relatives, the taliban dumped her body near our town.

She was treated at one of the local clinics for two days and we got in touch with your team through one of the doctors. We tried to get her to Kabul, because it was difficult to treat my daughter in Badakhshan province. The medical supplies ther are not good and she was very sick. 

My daughter started talking to me a little and she told me about other the girls. She asked if they were there too, in the clinic. I told her that there is no news about other girls.

On August 8, we started to head to Kabul with your team and their car, but unfortunately we had to stop because of road repair. The road was closed and we still could not leave. My daughter died in my arms.

I don't know what to say. I don't know where to complain. I don't know who to cry for.

My husband worked with the Afghan government, the United States of America and NATO for 10 years. Is this the reward for his cooperation?

Is this the reward of being Tajik?

Is this the reward of our Persian speaking?

This is our fault. We were born in a Tajik family.

This is our fault because we helped the Great United States of America.

This is our fault for helping NATO.

I'm asking all the women in the United States of America if you could please imagine for 10 minutes that this was you, what would you do!?

Finally, I would like to thank your team for working for us to the best of your ability.

Special thanks to your team.

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