The two attackers burst into the home of the widow and her daughter in Ghazni city at around 4:00 am and shot them dead, said Ghazni provincial police chief Zilawar Zahid.
The killings are the latest to highlight the dangers which many women in Afghanistan face 10 years after a US-led invasion ousted the Taliban's harsh regime which enforced repressive policies against women.
"They were killed inside their house," said Zahid. "An investigation is under way to find out why they were killed and Afghan police have arrested two men in connection with the case."
He denied media reports that the women were stoned to death.
A man who lived near the women, Mohammad Jan, said the women had been "accused of adultery and immoral activities."
Women's rights have improved in some parts of Afghanistan since the Taliban were forced out of power, but many still face violence, particularly in areas where the militants remain powerful such as Ghazni.
The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission logged 1,026 cases of violence against women in the second quarter of 2011 compared to 2,700 cases for the whole of 2010.
And 87% of Afghan women have experienced physical, sexual or psychological violence, or forced marriage, according to figures quoted in a report by the charity Oxfam last month.
COMMENTS (7)
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This misogynist hate against women and twisted religio-cultural abomination must be eliminated.
Biwi Aisha was saved from Allah (SWT) with revealing verses that specifically protected those falsely accused of adultery and putting the onus on the malicious accuser to produce 4 eye witnesses, which is impossible, and with the failure of that they themselves would be punished. Also a rape victim's word and testimony was all that was needed to punish an alleged rapist.
Unfortunately stupid and hateful men have twisted and switched the scenarios around for their sick ideologies and misogynist beliefs.
Absolutely immoral or criminal for Pakistan to continue to give cover and aid to the criminal Kharjite extremists Afghan Taliban who continue to kill innocent Afghan civilians, just to maintain an anti-India presence. Sick.
@Insane... Ghazni or Ghaznavi si a name that the whole ISLAM is proud of..thats why Pakistan have named a missile after his name.. so please dont disgrace this great Conqueror and Hero of Islam...
and in the name of islam
It explains why so many people in Afghanistan dread the return of the Taliban. Women are stoned to death and denied of their rights, although they make up of half of the population.
BBC is reporting that the ill-fated women were first stoned and then shot. No surprises here from the barbaric Taliban. Women in Afghanistan suffer more than in perhaps any other country.
The tradition built by Mahmud of Ghazni lives on.....