Man who cut off wife's nose hunted by police and the Taliban in Afghanistan

It was not immediately clear why Mohammad Khan attacked the mother-of-one, but the Taliban have pledged to deal with him 'according to Sharia law'

Reza Gul, whose nose was sliced off by her husband, lies on a bed with her baby as she receives treatment at a hospital in the northern province of Faryab (AFP/Getty Images)

A man who cut off his wife’s nose in being hunted by police and the Taliban in Afghanistan, officials said.

Reza Gul lost a significant amount of blood after she was mutilated by her husband Mohammad Khan, 25, in the Taliban controlled, northern Faryab province. Relatives took her to a nearby hospital.

Mr Khan then fled, according to The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission which circulated the 20-year-old’s picture on social media. Branding the incident a “disgrace” they also called for the government to arrest him.

It was not immediately clear why Mr Khan attacked the mother-of-one, but Ms Gul reportedly told the Commission that her husband had routinely beat her.

In some parts of Afghanistan, slicing off a person's nose is meant to shame them and show they have brought disgrace to their family or clan.

A spokesman for the governor of Faryab province said she would need reconstructive surgery and arrangements are being made to transfer her to Turkey.

Mr Khan had returned from Iran just three months ago, Fawzia Salimi, a hospital director in Maymana, capital of Faryab province told The Associated Press, adding that community elders and Taliban representatives had tried mediating with the family to help them sort out their problems.

But this traditional method of dealing with family issues had failed, she added.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said that the group's gunmen were "seriously searching the area to find" Mr Khan. If and when he was found, "then he will be dealt with according to Sharia law," Mujahid said, referring to the Islamic legal system.

"Gul's village is under Taliban control... but the police are trying to chase her husband," Police chief Sayed Aqa Andarabi told the Agence France Presse.

The photograph of Ms Gul sparked outrage on social media.

Kabul-based women's rights activist Alema said: “Such a brutal and barbaric act should be strongly condemned. Such incidents would not happen if the government judicial system severely punished attacks on women."

Maria Reha, another prominent women's rights activist, wrote a sarcastic message on her Facebook page after the picture of Reza Gul circulated online.

She wrote: "We are the most proud and brave nation on earth?! If you doubt it, here is another example of our bravery! Don't worry, soon America or Europe will make her another nose and Afghanistan will win another trophy for this pride!"

Afghanistan is thought to have one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the world, although most incidents are not reported to officials. However, Recent attacks have sparked street demonstrations and online protests.

A 2010 Time magazine front cover picture of a mutilated woman caught the attention of the world.

Bibi Aisha, had her nose cut off by her abusive husband in southern Uruzgan province. Eventually she moved to the US and was given a prosthetic nose.