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Wait until she's 9: Why Taliban asked 45-year-old Afghan ‘groom' to hold off marriage with 6-year-old

A six-year-old girl was forced to marry a 45-year-old man, who is already married to two women, in Afghanistan after her father sold her to him. When the Taliban learned of the incident, they were reportedly 'horrified' and arrested both the groom and the girl's father, though no charges have been filed yet. The Taliban told the man he has to wait until the girl turns nine to have her as his 'bride' read more The girl was forced to marry a 45-year-old man in southern Afghanistan. Image: X A 45-year-old man, who is already married to two women, took a six-year-old girl as his 'bride' after he bought her from her father in Afghanistan. The man paid the child's family for the marriage, which happened in the country's Marjah district, according to local media. When the Taliban administration found out, they were reportedly 'horrified' and arrested both the groom and the child's father. ALSO READ | Will Kabul be the world's first city to run out of water? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, what came as another shock was that the Taliban said the man could not marry his 'bride' now due to her age and must wait until she turns nine. The marriage has been blocked for now, although local Taliban authorities have not issued any official statement, and no charges have been filed against the arrested men yet. So, how did the man marry the six-year-old? What happened after that? In this explainer, we take a look at these questions and how child marriage continues in Afghanistan. Let's find out: What happened? The girl was forced to marry a 45-year-old man, who is already married to two women, in southern Afghanistan. Notably, the girl's father accepted money from the man in exchange for the marriage. The groom paid the family as part of the arrangement. According to US-based Afghan news outlet the Taliban were 'horrified' after seeing images from the wedding and stopped the man from taking the child to his home. Instead, they told him the girl could be taken to his house once she turns nine. A 45-Year-Old Man Marries a 6-Year-Old Girl in Helmand: Crimes Against Female Children Escalate Under Taliban Rule : In a deeply disturbing incident that has sparked outrage among human rights advocates, a 45-year-old man has reportedly married a 6-year-old girl in Afghanistan's… — Afghanistan Womens And Children S.W.O (@AWCSWO) June 28, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The incident has led to outrage, although the marriage still stands as of now. Taliban officials in the area have not released any statement, but they have blocked the man from taking the girl with him. The child's father and the man she was married to were both arrested in the Marjah district. No charges have been filed so far. The girl remains in her parents' home, according to Hasht-e Subh Daily. The marriage involved a customary practice called 'walwar', where a 'bride price' is decided based on the girl's appearance, education and how she is valued by the community. Images from the wedding, showing the man with the visibly young girl, have caused outrage on social media and among human rights groups. ALSO READ | After Russia, is China next in line to legitimise Taliban as rulers of Afghanistan? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why child marriages are so common in Afghanistan Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban's actions have led to a rise in early and forced marriages. Child marriage, which was already prevalent in Afghanistan, has worsened due to the Taliban's ban on education and jobs for girls and women. The Taliban have issued around 70 orders and rules that directly limit the everyday lives of women and girls. AFP/File Photo Further, the country does not have a clear legal minimum age for marriage. The earlier civil code had set it at 16 for girls, but that law has not been brought back. Speaking to The Afghan Times, a local activist named Mahbob said, 'There are many families in our village who have given away their daughters for money. No one helps them. People are desperate.' Amiri, a 50-year-old woman, told the media outlet that she gave her 14-year-old daughter in marriage to a 27-year-old man for 300,000 Afghanis. 'I knew she was too young,' she said. 'But we had nothing at home. I used the money to feed the rest of my family,' she said. It is not always just about money. In some cases, girls are given away to end disputes. As part of the practice of 'baad', families involved in blood feuds offer girls to their rivals to settle conflicts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Once married, the girl is considered the namus or honour of her husband's family. If he dies, she may be forced to marry another male relative from the same family. Taliban's actions have led to a rise in early and forced marriages. AFP/File Photo The oppressive state of women in Afghanistan Afghanistan is currently facing a number of overlapping crises, all made worse by growing gender inequality. Since taking control, the Taliban have issued around 70 orders and rules that directly limit the rights, freedoms and everyday lives of women and girls. These include bans on education and work for women, which have now been written into official law. Women are also no longer allowed in many public places such as parks, gyms and sports centres. Child, early and forced marriages have sharply increased. With the country facing an economic and humanitarian crisis, many families are turning to such practices to survive. Afghan women have also been removed from public service roles. Image: X/@unafghanistan A UN Women report from last year said the ban on girls' education has led to a 25 per cent rise in child marriages and a 45 per cent rise in early pregnancies. In 2023, figures showed that 28.7 per cent of Afghan girls under 18 were married, including 9.6 per cent who were under 15. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Access to education for girls has also been heavily restricted. They were first barred from secondary schools in March 2022. Later that year, in December, they were also stopped from attending universities. An analysis by UN Women has warned that by 2026, keeping 1.1 million girls out of school and over 100,000 women out of university will likely lead to a 45 per cent rise in early pregnancies and at least a 50 per cent rise in maternal mortality. Notably, Afghan women have also been removed from public service roles. Many have lost jobs in the private sector, and women-run businesses have been shut down. In December 2022, the Taliban banned women from working for both national and international NGOs. In April 2023, the ban was extended to Afghan women working with the UN. By July 2023, even beauty salons, which were a major source of income and independence for many women, were forced to close. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In another blow, women were banned from training as midwives and nurses in December last year. This move immediately shut the last remaining path to education for women in Afghanistan. Being forced to stay at home has also had a serious effect on the mental health of women and girls, leading to a deepening crisis. They now face greater risks of violence and struggle to access reproductive care. Some are even at risk of being forcibly sterilised.