Woman imprisoned by brother for 25 years dies just five months after rescue

A woman who was imprisoned in a dark room for 25 years in Kabul died on Monday, just five months after being rescued by police.

The woman, Nikbakht, had been held by her brother in appalling conditions but was rescued after neighbors in district 10 tipped off the authorities about her plight in September last year.

After being rescued, she was hospitalized and treated for malnutrition and anemia.

Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said on Monday that Nikbakht spent a month in hospital after being rescued and once well enough to leave she was moved to a place of safety.

At the insistence of acting interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, Nikbakhta had regular medical check ups.

But on Sunday her health deteriorated. She passed away on Monday at about 6.30am, Zadran said.

According to him, Nikbakht was buried later the same day on Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan hill after a burial ceremony conducted by Haqqani.

In September, police arrested four of Nikbakht’s relatives, including her brother, for having forcibly imprisoned, abused and neglected her.

Police said at the time she had been subjected to years of abuse after separating from her husband. Other problems that plagued her included infertility, having a brother who was allegedly a criminal and a dispute over inheritance.