Afghan ‘Lovers’ Found Beheaded

KANDAHAR – A young couple in conservativesouthern Afghanistan have beenfound beheaded, apparently killed forhaving a love affair outside of marriage,officials said on Wednesday.Police investigating the case said theybelieved the family of thewoman, aged around 20,was responsible for themurders in the southernprovince of Helmand, alawless hotbed of theTaliban insurgency. Theelder brother of the malevictim, who was in his20s, told officers the woman had runaway with him recently and was living intheir family home. On Monday, 10 menbroke into the house near the provincialcapital Lashkar Gah and kidnapped thepair, police official Mohammad IsmailHotak told AFP. “On Tuesday, local residentsreported that there were two bodiesin the graveyard. We went there andfound them. Both were beheaded,” hesaid. “From our investigations, we havefound that the two had a love affair. Webelieve the family and relatives of the girlare behind the killing.”The police official said thebrother told investigatorsthe dead man had lovedthe woman and wanted tomarry her. Omar Zwak,the provincial governor’sspokesman, confirmed theincident and said an investigationwas under way. Relationsbetween young men and women outsidemarriage are taboo in Afghanistan, anextremely conservative nation with deepIslamic beliefs. Most marriages arearranged by family elders, in some caseswithout the couples being consulted.