In a horrific development from Afghanistan, a 45-year-old man, already married twice, wed a six-year-old in the Helmand province. When the Taliban administration came to know about this, there were repercussions, and the groom and the father of the child were arrested. The man was told he could not take the “bride” home, considering her age, and must wait for the girl to turn nine.
Afghan media reports said that the man paid the parents of the six-year-old girl money in return for her hand. Despite outrage over the development, the marriage stands, multiple media reports confirmed. The two men were arrested in Marjah district, the same district where the marriage ceremony took place. However, reports said the Taliban haven’t charged either man.
Following the arrests, the child returned to live with her parents. Some articles said that the family was under tremendous financial crisis which ultimately led to the girl’s father approving to the “proposal.”
In Pashtun culture, the guardian of the bride accepting money in exchange for her is called “Walwar,” which simply means “the bride price.” The payment, mostly accepted by the woman’s father or brother, can be in cash or in kind, and its amount is typically negotiated between the two families.
Child marriage is a significant concern in Taliban-governed Afghanistan. Recent reports indicate a worsening situation due to economic hardship that rural Pashtun households are facing. According to Girls Not Brides, approximately 28.7% of Afghan girls marry before the age of 18, and 9.6% marry before the age of 15. For boys, 7% marry before 18.
