Lailuma Built Opportunities for Afghan Women – Then She Was Killed

Lailuma, a community activist and the wife of renowned singer Salam Maftoon, was murdered in early May 2026 in Ishkashim district, located in the northeastern province of Badakhshan, Afghanistan. The attack occurred as she arrived at her restaurant, where she had established a women-only space offering both employment and protection against forced marriage. Unidentified assailants shot her in a market area near provincial government buildings. Despite the presence of witnesses, the attackers fled quickly, leaving Lailuma critically injured. She succumbed to her wounds before reaching the hospital, marking the tragic end of a woman whose efforts had brought tangible change to the lives of many Afghan women. Lailuma’s death has sent shockwaves through the community, especially among women who had found refuge and purpose in her initiatives. Before her murder, she operated a restaurant employing seven women and a tailoring workshop with 11 girls, offering them vocational training and a means of livelihood. Her work emerged in response to the Taliban’s closure of schools and universities for girls, which had left many women without access to formal education or economic independence. Lailuma’s restaurant became a rare public space where women could gather freely, fostering a sense of normalcy and empowerment in a region marked by instability and conflict. The violence surrounding Lailuma’s death reflects broader patterns of unrest in Afghanistan. According to the human rights group Rawadar, over 611 individuals were killed or injured in targeted attacks, summary executions, or similar incidents in the country last year, a figure representing a 40 percent increase compared to the prior year. Many of the victims were men, including former government workers, opposition-linked individuals, protesters, and tribal leaders. However, the threat extends beyond men, as evidenced by Lailuma’s case, which highlights the growing danger faced by women engaged in activism or independent enterprise. Badakhshan, Lailuma’s home province, has long been a flashpoint for conflict, with frequent clashes between various armed factions. The region’s lack of robust governance and security infrastructure exacerbates the vulnerability of civilians, particularly women, who face additional risks due to the Taliban’s stringent policies. Since the Taliban regained control in 2021, restrictions on women’s participation in public life have intensified, culminating in the complete ban on girls’ secondary education and women’s university attendance. These policies have driven many women into underground education systems, where they risk severe punishment if discovered. Lailuma’s husband, Salam Maftoon, described her as a tireless advocate for women’s dignity and opportunity. He noted that her restaurant and tailoring workshop provided not just jobs but also a safe environment where women could find camaraderie and strength. Her commitment to supporting others extended beyond her immediate circle, as she had also received anonymous death threats in the past, yet continued her work undeterred. Her assassination has left behind a void, with many questioning the motives behind her killing and expressing fear for the future of similar initiatives. Fawzia Koofi, a former deputy speaker of the Afghan parliament and vocal critic of the Taliban’s treatment of women, has labeled the current situation in Afghanistan as “gender apartheid.” She notes that despite the Taliban’s oppressive measures, Afghan women persist in seeking ways to resist through clandestine education and digital advocacy. Koofi emphasizes that while the Taliban’s restrictions have grown more severe since their initial takeover, women continue to push back, often relying on underground schools and international support networks to sustain their fight for autonomy and survival. The murder of Lailuma underscores the precariousness of such resistance. While her legacy will live on through the women she employed and inspired, the circumstances of her death raise urgent questions about the safety of those striving to carve out spaces of freedom in a deeply repressive environment. The absence of justice for her killers leaves a chilling message for anyone attempting to challenge the status quo.