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Daily Mirror
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Taliban's grim ultimatum to man, 45, who married six-year-old girl
A 45-year-old man who married a six-year-old girl shocked the Taliban with his abhorrent wedding ceremony, with the militant extremists handing down a grim order The world has been left sickened by reports that a 45-year-old man has married a six-year-old girl, in an act so abhorrent, even the Taliban have condemned it. It's understood that the wedding took place in the Marjah district of Afghanistan, at a time of great concern over the rise of child marriages in the country. Shockingly, there is no longer a codified minimum marriage age in Afghanistan, with Taliban forces rolling back the age limit of 16 previously established after the 2001 Western invasion. However, this recent child marriage has proven abhorrent even to those who have played an active role in stripping away the rights of Afghan women and girls. As reported by US-based Afghan outlet the Taliban has taken some action against this man, who reportedly already has two wives. They've issued a grim order - the man has to wait until the child turns nine before he can take her home. Under Taliban rule, a girl's 'marriageable age' is decided by Islamic law interpretation, with the Hanafi jurisprudence determining puberty to be the "threshold for readiness". The girl's own choice does not come into it. Devastatingly, this is an issue which is all too prevalent in a country where women have virtually been removed from public life, while struggling families are often forced to sell their own daughters to keep food on the table. In a recent interview with The Afghan Times, an activist who lives in a rural village shared: "There are many families in our village who have given away their daughters for money. No one helps them. People are desperate." As detailed in the publication's report, this practice, which has surged since the Taliban retook power in 2021, is known as 'walwar' and involves girls being exchanged for cash based on factors such as looks, health and education level. In this particular instance, the groom paid the child's family money in exchange for her. He and the girl's father were later arrested, but not charged. According to statistics given by the organisation Girls Not Brides, 28.7 per cent of Afghan girls marry before the age of 18, while 9.6 per cent marry before they turn 15. As per a United Nations (UN) report published last year, systematic oppression has sparked an alarming 25 per cent rise in child and forced marriages. This comes at a time when women in Afghanistan are forbidden from speaking in public or even showing their faces outside of the family home. Forced to wear full-body coverings, these women are banned from places where they may once have met with friends and opened up about any difficulties, including gyms, female-only public baths, and even beauty salons. As for the women of the future, girls have been forbidden from pursuing secondary education, cutting off their chances of economic independence, destroying their potential, and putting them at risk of early forced marriages. In a statement released in March this year, as a new school year began in Afghanistan, UNICEF said: "As a new school year begins in Afghanistan, it marks three years since the start of the ban on girls' secondary education. This decision continues to harm the future of millions of Afghan girls. If this ban persists until 2030, over four million girls will have been deprived of their right to education beyond primary school. 'The consequences for these girls - and for Afghanistan - are catastrophic. The ban negatively impacts the health system, the economy, and the future of the nation. With fewer girls receiving an education, girls face a higher risk of child marriage, with negative repercussions on their well-being and health. In addition, the country will experience a shortage of qualified female health workers. This will endanger lives. "With fewer female doctors and midwives, girls and women will not receive the medical treatment and support they need. We are estimating an additional 1,600 maternal deaths and over 3,500 infant deaths. These are not just numbers; they represent lives lost and families shattered. 'For over three years, the rights of girls in Afghanistan have been violated. All girls must be allowed to return to school now. If these capable, bright young girls continue to be denied an education, then the repercussions will last for generations. Afghanistan cannot leave half of its population behind."
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Taliban ask 45-year-old man to ‘wait' after marrying 6-year-old girl: Report
A 45-year old man in Afghanistan got married to a six-year old, but when the Taliban administration found out, they instructed him to wait till the girl turns nine before bringing her home, according to local media reports. Child marriages in Afghanistan have worsened since the Taliban came to power in 2021.(AFP/Representational Image) In an incident that took place in the country's Marjah district, the man took a six year old girl as his bride in exchange for money from her father, reported According to the report, the man is already married to two women and this was his third marriage. The union was formalized on Friday with the girl expected to come to the man's house afterwards. But when the Taliban officials heard of the matter, they intervened and temporarily stopped the marriage stating that the man needs to wait till the girl turns nine. According to a report by Hasht-e Subh Daily, the girl is now staying at her parents house. Although, the man was briefly detained, he was not prosecuted by the Taliban administration. There have been no reports of charges being filed against the man and Taliban authorities have also not released any statement. Increasing child marriages since Taliban's rule This incident has led to outrage among human rights groups, highlighting the issue of child marriages in Afghanistan. Marriages of this kind are practiced under 'walwar' where money is given in exchange for a bride based on her appearance and value in the community. Child marriages in Afghanistan have worsened since the Taliban came to power in 2021. According to a report by UN Women, the rate of child marriage among Afghan girls are increasing by 25 per cent, with increasing rate of early childbearing among Afghan adolescent girls. Also read: ICC seeks arrest of Taliban leaders over persecution of women The International Criminal Court on Tuesday issued arrest warrants for Taliban's supreme leader and the head of Afghanistan's Supreme Court, based on charges of persecuting women and girls since coming to power, reported AP. In a statement, the court said that Taliban has 'severely deprived' women of the rights to education, expression, privacy, movement or family life through various decrees.
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First Post
11-07-2025
- First Post
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.
Mint
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Afghan man, 45, marries 6-year-old girl; Taliban intervenes, says she ‘can join husband when she turns 9'
A 45-year-old man has married a six-year-old girl in Afghanistan's Helmand province, sparking outrage and renewed concerns over child marriage under Taliban rule. US-based Afghan outlet reported that Taliban officials were 'horrified' after seeing images of the ceremony. They stopped the man from taking the girl home, saying instead she could go to her husband's house when she turns nine. Despite the backlash, the marriage remains valid. According to the Hasht-e Subh Daily, the man, who already has two wives, paid the girl's family money for her. The wedding took place in the Marjah district. Following this, the girl's father and the groom were arrested, but neither has been formally charged. Child marriage has worsened in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Restrictions on women's education and work have fuelled early and forced marriages, with families facing growing financial hardship. Last year, UN Women said these bans led to a 25 per cent rise in child marriages and a 45 per cent increase in childbearing across the country. UNICEF lists Afghanistan among the nations with the highest number of child brides globally. The International Criminal Court (ICC) recently issued arrest warrants for two top Taliban leaders, accusing them of crimes against humanity over their treatment of women and girls. The court said there were 'reasonable grounds' to believe that Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and chief justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani were responsible for systematic persecution. In response, the Taliban rejected the ICC's authority, calling the move 'a clear act of hostility' and 'an insult to the beliefs of Muslims around the world'. Rights groups warn that child marriage exposes girls to lifelong harm, including early pregnancies, sexual abuse, depression and social isolation. In many cases, girls have no say in whom or when they marry. Some are promised to male cousins at birth through a practice called 'naming', treating them as family property. In rural areas, girls are also traded for walwar – a bride price paid by the groom's family based on the girl's appearance, health or education. Mahbob, a community activist, told The Afghan Times, 'There are many families in our village who have given away their daughters for money. No one helps them. People are desperate.' Another tradition, known as baad, sees girls exchanged to settle disputes between families. A girl given away becomes the namus (honour) of her husband's family. If widowed, she may be forcibly married to another male relative. Amiri, a 50-year-old woman from Uruzgan, told The Afghan Times that she married off her 14-year-old daughter 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.' Afghanistan currently has no fixed legal minimum age for marriage. The former civil code, which set the age at 16 for girls, has not been reinstated under the Taliban. Instead, marriage is guided by interpretations of Islamic law. In the Hanafi school of thought, a girl can be married once she reaches puberty. The Taliban's crackdown on women and girls extends far beyond marriage. Girls are banned from secondary schools, universities, parks, gyms and public baths. Women cannot work in most jobs, travel without a male guardian, or show their faces in public. Last year, the Taliban defended these rules, claiming a woman 'loses her value' if her face is seen by men.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
6-year-old girl sold into marriage with 45-year-old in Afghanistan; Taliban intervenes: ‘Wait until she's nine'
A harrowing case from Afghanistan's Helmand province has sparked international condemnation after a six-year-old girl was forced into marriage with a 45-year-old man in exchange for money. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The incident, first reported by US-based Afghan news outlet on June 28, took place in the Marjah district. According to Hasht-e Subh Daily, the groom was already married and had two wives. Local sources revealed that the girl's father arranged the marriage under financial pressure. While the Taliban authorities did intervene in the ceremony, their response has raised fresh alarm. Rather than cancelling the marriage or arresting the parties involved, Taliban officials reportedly instructed them to 'wait until the girl turns nine before bringing her home.' The statement, widely circulated on social media, has reignited criticism over the Taliban's stance on women's and children's rights since their return to power in 2021. International bodies and human rights advocates have repeatedly condemned the regime's rollbacks on education, employment, and basic freedoms for Afghan women and girls. Several nations have declared they will not officially recognise the Taliban government unless it guarantees and protects women's rights under international law. This case, however, has only deepened fears that those protections remain out of reach for Afghanistan's most vulnerable.
