Unknown gunmen kill wife of Afghan artist Salam Maftoon in Badakhshan

A woman identified as the wife of Afghan local artist Salam Maftoon was shot dead by an unidentified attacker in Afghanistan’s northeastern Badakhshan province, residents said on Thursday.

Zabihullah Amiri, director of Information and Culture in Badakhshan, told Khaama Press that Lailuma was attacked around 7 a.m. while travelling to her workplace in Ishkashim district.

He said the assailant used a hunting rifle and fled the area after the shooting. Authorities have not identified or arrested any suspects.

Residents in the district said Lailuma worked at a restaurant designated for women, though officials said the motive for the killing remains unclear.

No public statement has yet been issued by Salam Maftoon or other members of the victim’s family. The killing comes amid continued concerns over violence against women in Afghanistan. Earlier, a 12-year-old girl was killed in Raghistan district of Badakhshan, while Badakhshani woman Badriya Jalali was also killed in a separate attack in Kabul.

Targeted killings and violent incidents involving women continue to raise concerns in Afghanistan, particularly in remote provinces where security oversight and law enforcement capacity remain limited.

Human rights groups have repeatedly warned that Afghan women face growing restrictions and insecurity under the current environment, with limited access to protection mechanisms, employment opportunities, and public participation.

Authorities in Badakhshan said an investigation into the killing is underway.

The post Unknown gunmen kill wife of Afghan artist Salam Maftoon in Badakhshan appeared first on Khaama Press.