Repairing the Hymen Behind the Streets of Kabul Report from Meena Habib
In one of the back streets of Kabul, out of sight of the law, a doctor prepares to rush to the aid of several girls who have lost their virginity. Girls who, after much insistence and pleading, have finally had the opportunity to be under the razor blade and say goodbye to a past that comes to them like a nightmare at every moment.
It is clear from their conversations that they have been deceived, manipulated and unknowingly done so. Zarmina (Metaphorical Name) is one of them. He was reluctant to talk to us. Zarmina, now 25, admits that she was deceived by her boyfriend and lost her virginity in a sexual relationship.
The hymen is a layer of skin that covers all or part of the vaginal opening. If this tissue is intact, it will be destroyed during the first sexual intercourse, and its rupture will often lead to bleeding as well as pain.
The hymen is destroyed in various ways and it does not happen only through sexual relationship. Although sexual relationship is the most common cause of hymen rupture, girls who engage in activities such as exercise, cycling, dancing, jumping, and other physical activities are more likely to have their hymen torn and torn.
Zarmina, however, has lost her virginity in a sexual relationship. Now she comes to a doctor in one of the back streets of Kabul and urges him to save his life. Zarmina has recently positioned for married and that is why she is trying to find a solution before her past creates a nightmare for her again.
Restoration of virginity is considered illegal in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Public Health does not allow such a thing, but the profitability of this work tempts many
doctors in this field and forces them to do so. At present, the repair of the hymen in Kabul costs between 40,000 and 80,000 Afghanis.
In the traditional society of Afghanistan, virginity is highly valued and is considered a symbol of chastity and family pride. In most cases, girls who have sex before marriage are humiliated by society and face divorce and even death.
The doctor who was present during my conversation with Zarmina said that he now had to save her life. “As you can see, Zarmina is in a very bad situation and she is constantly apologizing to me to find a solution to her problem,” said the doctor. “I am compelled to restore this girl’s virginity out of human emotion.”
The prosperity of an illegal work
Restoration of virginity is considered illegal in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Public Health does not allow such a thing, but the profitability of this work tempts many doctors in this field and forces them to do so. At present, the repair of the hymen in Kabul costs between 40,000 and 80,000 Afghanis.
In addition, fears of notoriety in society or the deterioration of society have also fueled the underground business that promises to restore virginity.
In the traditional society of Afghanistan, virginity is highly valued and is considered a symbol of chastity and family pride. In most cases, girls who have sex before marriage are humiliated by society and face divorce and even death.
The doctor who was present during my conversation with Zarmina said that he now had to save her life. “As you can see, Zarmina is in a very bad situation and she is constantly apologizing to me to find a solution to her problem,” said the doctor. “I am compelled to restore this girl’s virginity out of human emotion.”
The prosperity of an illegal work
Restoration of virginity is considered illegal in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Public Health does not allow such a thing, but the profitability of this work tempts many doctors in this field and forces them to do so. At present, the repair of the hymen in Kabul costs between 40,000 and 80,000 Afghanis.
In addition, fears of notoriety in society or the deterioration of society have also fueled the underground business that promises to restore virginity.
Many physicians who perform this surgery avoid talking about it – especially with reporters. These physicians also accept their clients cautiously and only if they have a referral, and their argument for doing so is “intent to help.”
Dr. Ehsan (Metaphorical Name of the doctor) is a surgeon. He says that most of the girls who refer to his medical office room, because of being in a romantic situation or dependence on the other party, enter into these relationships, then because of the stress that is created for them or the marriage situation that occurs. They perform surgery.
Doctors say that clients in the ward avoid telling the truth in the first place, and often say that they were either hit by the wall or hit hard on the bed, but then they start crying and telling the truth.
Dr. Ehsan says about the restoration of virginity: “Two or three days before the wedding, the doctors close and sew the torn parts of the hymen, which is done by shedding a few drops of blood during sexual intercourse. “The second type is the complete restoration of the hymen, which must be done five or six months before marriage.”
“I repair three or four hymens every month,” she said. “Those who are repairing their virginity are in the age group of 18 to 24 years.”
Zarmina, however, has lost her virginity in a sexual relationship. Now he comes to a doctor in one of the back alleys of Kabul and urges him to save his life. Zarmina has recently gotten married and that is why she is trying to find a solution before her past creates a nightmare for her again.
In the traditional society of Afghanistan, virginity is highly valued and is considered a symbol of chastity and family pride. In most cases, girls who have sex before marriage are humiliated by society and face divorce and even death.
However, clients also try to keep their identities and personal details as secret as possible and leave no trace of themselves. Nazia (Metaphorical Name) is another girl who came to restore her virginity. He also hardly agrees to be interviewed, Nazia says that she lost her virginity not in sexual intercourse but in childhood and as a result of an accident.
“My parents tell me that I was hit by a car when I was young,” he said. I went to the doctor and it was confirmed that my virginity was lost as a result of the same accident. “Now I have to restore my virginity, because if I marry someone, I have to prove my purity.”
Nazia cries that if the doctor does not solve her problem, she will commit suicide.
In the traditional society of Afghanistan, virginity is highly valued and is considered a symbol of chastity and family pride. In most cases, girls who have sex before marriage are humiliated by society and face divorce and even death.
However, clients also try to keep their identities and personal details as secret as possible and leave no trace of themselves. Nazia (Metaphorical Name) is another girl who came to restore her virginity. He also hardly agrees to be interviewed, Nazia says that she lost her virginity not in sexual intercourse but in childhood and as a result of an accident.
“My parents tell me that I was hit by a car when I was young,” he said. I went to the doctor and it was confirmed that my virginity was lost as a result of the same accident. “Now I have to restore my virginity, because if I marry someone, I have to prove my purity.”
Nazia cries that if the doctor does not solve her problem, she will commit suicide.
Consequences of not having virginity
“Girl’s” virginity is a vital issue,” said Latifa Soltani, head of the women’s advocacy unit at the Independent Human Rights Commission. “When a woman’s husband does not see one or two drops of his wife’s blood on his wedding night, the woman faces a bad fate, which may lead to separation and divorce.”
He added that according to bad customs in Afghanistan, unfaithful girls are dragged out of the house, killed and even sent to their father’s house on their wedding night. “Cases like this have been registered with the Independent Human Rights Commission, which has even cut off the ears and noses of girls, and some honor killings have taken place for this reason,” Latifa Soltani said.
Trying to avoid
The introduction of girls for virginity exams has met with strong opposition from women rights activists. Following this uproar and opposition, the government banned the virginity examinations of girls in the country. Something that is rarely done right now.
Although the Afghan government has banned girls’ virginity examinations, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs says that if the young girls are charged, they will be referred to the prosecutor’s office. Fowzia Habibi, director of rights at the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, says that cases related to girls’ virginity are being referred to the prosecutor’s office.
On the other hand, Hashmat Stanekzai, the spokesman of the Kabul Police Command, says that the Kabul Police is also responsible for the moral crimes department, as it has done in this regard so far. According to Mr. Stanekzai, they refer girls accused of being unfaithful to the prosecutor’s office, and through that, they are sent to forensic medicine for examination.
On the other hand, Wahid Majrooh, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health, said: “According to the information received by the Ministry of Health through forensic medicine, they do not perform virginity examinations directly on girls, and these examinations are based on an official letter from the Attorney General.”
However, a spokesman for the Ministry of Hea
Ministry of Women’s Affairs says that if the young girls are charged, they will be referred to the prosecutor’s office. Fowzia Habibi, director of rights at the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, says that cases related to girls’ virginity are being referred to the prosecutor’s office.
On the other hand, Hashmat Stanekzai, the spokesman of the Kabul Police Command, says that the Kabul Police is also responsible for the moral crimes department, as it has done in this regard so far. According to Mr. Stanekzai, they refer girls accused of being unfaithful to the prosecutor’s office, and through that, they are sent to forensic medicine for examination.
On the other hand, Wahid Majrooh, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health, said: “According to the information received by the Ministry of Health through forensic medicine, they do not perform virginity examinations directly on girls, and these examinations are based on an official letter from the Attorney General.”
However, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health stressed that no examination would be performed without the consent of the person being examined.
What is Virginity/Hymen?
Dr. Yasmin Amin, an obstetrician, says that the hymen is a very thin veil that is destroyed by various factors besides sexual intercourse.
According to him, heavy movements have their effects on destroying girls’ virginity. Also, when girls’ wombs become dirty or germy, their virginity disappears. He said that some did not even have virginity in the mother’s womb and were born without the veil of virginity.
The obstetrician added that the possibility of girls’ virginity being healthy or unhealthy is possible only as a result of a “gynecological” examination by obstetricians.
Dr. Yasmin said that girls who get married should see a doctor before getting married to find out if their virginity is healthy or not. According to her, this prevents some social problems and prevents girls from facing violence.
Fear of not being a virgin has forced many girls to repair this veil. Dr. Yasmin confirms that a number of girls come to them before marriage to restore their virginity.
The obstetrician emphasizes that the hymen is a thin membrane that comes in many forms and can be destroyed during intercourse, even without bleeding. According to him, not seeing blood at the beginning of sexual intercourse is not a reason for a girl to be infertile.
lth stressed that no examination would be performed without the consent of the person being examined.
the prosecutor’s office.
On the other hand, Hashmat Stanekzai, the spokesman of the Kabul Police Command, says that the Kabul Police is also responsible for the moral crimes department, as it has done in this regard so far. According to Mr. Stanekzai, they refer girls accused of being unfaithful to the prosecutor’s office, and through that, they are sent to forensic medicine for examination.
On the other hand, Wahid Majrooh, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Hea
lth, said: “According to the information received by the Ministry of Health through forensic medicine, they do not perform virginity examinations directly on girls, and these examinations are based on an official letter from the Attorney General.”
However, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health stressed that no examination would be performed without the consent of the person being examined.
What is Virginity/Hymen?
Dr. Yasmin Amin, an obstetrician, says that the hymen is a very thin veil that is destroyed by various factors besides sexual intercourse.
According to him, heavy movements have their effects on destroying girls’ virginity. Also, when girls’ wombs become dirty or germy, their virginity disappears. He said that some did not even have virginity in the mother’s womb and were born without the veil of virginity.
The obstetrician added that the possibility of girls’ virginity being healthy or unhealthy is possible only as a result of a “gynecological” examination by obstetricians.
Dr. Yasmin said that girls who get married should see a doctor before getting married to find out if their virginity is healthy or not. According to her, this prevents some social problems and prevents girls from facing violence.
Fear of not being a virgin has forced many girls to repair this veil. Dr. Yasmin confirms that a number of girls come to them before marriage to restore their virginity.
The obstetrician emphasizes that the hymen is a thin membrane that comes in many forms and can be destroyed during intercourse, even without bleeding. According to him, not seeing blood at the beginning of sexual intercourse is not a reason for a girl to be infertile.
What is Virginity/Hymen?
Dr. Yasmin Amin, an obstetrician, says that the hymen is a very thin veil that is destroyed by various factors besides sexual intercourse.
According to him, heavy movements have their effects on destroying girls’ virginity. Also, when girls’ wombs become dirty or germy, their virginity disappears. He said that some did not even have virginity in the mother’s womb and were born without the veil of virginity.
The obstetrician added that the possibility of girls’ virginity being healthy or unhealthy is possible only as a result of a “gynecological” examination by
Dr. Yasmin Amin, an obstetrician, says that the hymen is a very thin veil that is destroyed by various factors besides sexual intercourse.
According to him, heavy movements have their effects on destroying girls’ virginity. Also, when girls’ wombs become dirty or germy, their virginity disappears. He said that some did not even have virginity in the mother’s womb and were born without the veil of virginity.
The obstetrician added that the possibility of girls’ virginity being healthy or unhealthy is possible only as a result of a “gynecological” examination by obstetricians.
Dr. Yasmin said that girls who get married should see a doctor before getting married to find out if their virginity is healthy or not. According to her, this prevents some social problems and prevents girls from facing violence.
Fear of not being a virgin has forced many girls to repair this veil. Dr. Yasmin confirms that a number of girls come to them before marriage to restore their virginity.
The obstetrician emphasizes that the hymen is a thin membrane that comes in many forms and can be destroyed during intercourse, even without bleeding. According to him, not seeing blood at the beginning of sexual intercourse is not a reason for a girl to be infertile.
However, according to doctors, some girls may not be virgin or have a virginity, in which case seeing blood during sexual intercourse cannot be a measure of whether a girl is chaste or not.