Kabul: A 45-year-old Afghan man has married a six-year-old girl in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. According to the US-based Afghan outlet Amu.tv, the Taliban intervened and prevented the man from taking the child home. Instead, they reportedly stated that she could only be taken to her husband’s home once she turns nine.
The Taliban's decision came after images of the young girl dressed as a bride went viral on social media.
Groom & Child's Father Arrested
The groom and the girl’s father were arrested in Marjah district, where the marriage ceremony took place. However, no criminal charges have been filed. Reportedly, the girl's father had sold his daughter to the man in exchange for money. The transaction was carried out under the traditional practice of walwar — a bride's price determined by the girl’s physical appearance, education, and perceived value. Reportedly, this is the man's third marriage. For now, the girl remains with her parents.
Legal Age For Marriage In Afganistan
There is currently no legally defined minimum age for marriage under Taliban rule. Instead, marriages are governed by interpretations of Islamic law. Under the Hanafi school of thought, a girl may be married once she reaches puberty, but there is no consensus on the exact age this occurs.
According to a UN Women report, child marriages in Afghanistan have seen a 25% surge, while teenage pregnancies have increased by 45% — a direct result of the Taliban’s regressive policies against women and girls.
ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Senior Taliban Leaders
On 8 July, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and Afghanistan’s Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani.
They are accused of crimes against humanity, including the systematic persecution of women, girls, and individuals who oppose the Taliban’s gender-based policies.
