Karima, 28, had an arranged marriage in 2015. But soon her husband started beating her.
In her distress, she sought counseling in March from an Afghan women’s NGO. When staffers saw her bloodied face, they knew something was wrong. But when they asked her what happened, she said she had only “fallen down,” and feared going to a doctor.
After much urging, Karima — whose real name is hidden due to security issues — admitted that the bruises were caused by her husband. But she was afraid to go to court, thinking she would only be blamed for her predicament.