A disturbing case of child marriage was reported in Afghanistan, where a 6-year-old girl was married to a 45-year-old man. The girl’s family reportedly accepted money in return for the marriage. However, after learning about it, the Taliban administration stepped in and blocked the marriage from continuing saying the girl should not be sent to her husband’s house until she is at least 9 years old.
Marriage Took Place in Marjah District
According to a report by Amu TV, a US-based Afghan news source, and later shared by NDTV, the incident happened in the Marjah district of Afghanistan. The man the girl was married to already has two wives.
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Although the local Taliban administration did not issue any public statement, sources say they did take action to stop the girl from being sent to her husband’s home.
Father and Groom Arrested but No Charges Filed
Following the incident, both the girl’s father and the 45-year-old groom were arrested. However, no formal case or charge was filed against them. Later, the girl was allowed to stay with her family, with the condition that she cannot be sent to live with the husband before turning nine.
Child Marriage on the Rise After Taliban Return
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, the number of child and underage marriages has gone up. As poverty increases, many families are selling their daughters for money, marrying them off at a very young age.
Another major concern is the restrictions on girls’ education. There is currently no official minimum age for marriage in the country. Before the Taliban came to power, the minimum legal age for girls to marry was 16, but that law is no longer active.
UN Report Shows Alarming Rise in Underage Marriages
A report from the United Nations last year said that after the ban on girls’ education, child marriages in Afghanistan increased by 25%, and early marriages among teenagers and young girls rose by 45%. Human rights organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about this growing crisis.
Source: Independent TV
