45-Year-Old Afghan Man Marries 6-Year-Old Girl in Helmand province has sparked widespread outrage, shining a harsh light on the persistent issue of child marriage in the country. The incident, which took place in the Marjah district, involved the groom, already married to two women, paying the girl’s family through the traditional practice of walwar—a bride price determined by the girl’s physical appearance, education level, and perceived value.
Images of the child bride circulated on social media, drawing condemnation from activists and observers worldwide. While the Taliban intervened to prevent the man from taking the girl home until she reaches the age of nine, the incident underscores the alarming rise of child marriage in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
45-Year-Old Afghan Man Marries 6-Year-Old Girl
The marriage in Helmand province is a stark example of the commodification of young girls in Afghanistan’s patriarchal society. According to reports from Hasht-e Subh Daily, the groom paid the girl’s family a sum of money in exchange for the six-year-old, a transaction facilitated through the practice of walwar.
This custom, deeply rooted in Afghan culture, places a monetary value on a bride based on factors such as her appearance and education level. In this case, the girl’s family accepted the payment, effectively selling their daughter to a man nearly four decades her senior.
The groom, already married to two other women, was arrested alongside the girl’s father after the ceremony, but no formal charges have been filed. The Taliban’s intervention, which delayed the girl being sent to her husband’s home until she is nine, offers little reassurance. The fact that a child as young as six could be subjected to such an arrangement is a chilling reminder of the lack of protections for girls in Afghanistan.
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The circulation of images of the child bride on social media amplified the global outcry. These images, which depicted the young girl in a wedding ceremony, served as a painful symbol of the exploitation and abuse faced by countless girls in Afghanistan.
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While the girl remains with her parents for now, the psychological and emotional toll of being promised to a much older man at such a young age cannot be understated. The case highlights not only the vulnerability of young girls but also the systemic failures that allow such practices to persist. The absence of a legal minimum age for marriage under Taliban rule, combined with cultural practices like walwar, creates an environment where child marriages are not only possible but increasingly common.
The Surge of Child Marriage Under Taliban Rule
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the situation for women and girls has deteriorated dramatically, with child marriage becoming an even more pervasive issue. According to UN Women, there has been a 25% surge in child marriages and a 45% increase in childbearing among girls since the Taliban imposed sweeping restrictions on female education and employment.
These restrictions have left families in dire economic straits, pushing many to marry off their daughters as a means of financial survival. UNICEF ranks Afghanistan among the top countries globally for child brides, with millions of girls married before the age of 18. The lack of a legal minimum age for marriage under Taliban governance exacerbates this crisis, as the previous civil code, which set the minimum age for girls at 16, has been abandoned.
Under the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic law, specifically the Hanafi school, a girl may be married once she reaches puberty, but there is no consensus on when puberty begins. This ambiguity allows for the marriage of girls as young as six, as seen in the Helmand case. The absence of clear legal protections leaves girls at the mercy of cultural practices and familial decisions, often driven by poverty or societal pressure.
The practice of walwar further incentivizes families to marry off their daughters, as it provides immediate financial relief in a country where economic opportunities for women are virtually nonexistent. The Taliban’s bans on secondary education and university attendance for girls have compounded the problem, trapping young girls in a cycle of early marriage and motherhood with no access to education or economic independence.
The rise in child marriage is not just a cultural or economic issue; it is a direct consequence of the Taliban’s oppressive policies toward women and girls. By barring girls from schools and women from most forms of employment, the Taliban has created a system where families see early marriage as one of the few viable options for their daughters.
This systemic disenfranchisement strips girls of their agency and perpetuates a cycle of poverty, abuse, and gender inequality. The Helmand case is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a broader crisis that has worsened under Taliban rule.
International Condemnation and the Taliban’s Response
The international community has responded to Afghanistan’s gender crisis with growing alarm, but efforts to hold the Taliban accountable have faced significant challenges. The International Criminal Court (ICC) recently issued arrest warrants for two senior Taliban leaders—Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani—on charges of crimes against humanity for their treatment of women and girls.
These warrants mark a significant step toward addressing the systemic abuses faced by Afghan women, including forced marriages, educational bans, and restrictions on movement and employment. However, the Taliban swiftly rejected the ICC’s actions, labeling them an “insult to the beliefs of Muslims.” This dismissal reflects the Taliban’s broader refusal to engage with international human rights frameworks, further isolating Afghanistan from global efforts to protect women and girls.
The crackdown on women’s rights in Afghanistan extends far beyond child marriage. Girls have been banned from secondary schools and universities since 2021, effectively denying an entire generation of Afghan girls access to education. Women are barred from most jobs, public parks, gyms, and even bathhouses, and they must cover their faces in public and be accompanied by a male guardian when traveling.
These restrictions have created a suffocating environment for women and girls, limiting their ability to participate in society and increasing their vulnerability to exploitation. The international community, including organizations like UN Women and UNICEF, has called for urgent action to address these violations, but the Taliban’s intransigence has made progress difficult.
The Helmand case has drawn particular attention because of its egregious nature, but it is just one of many similar stories in Afghanistan. The global outcry on social media, fueled by the circulation of images of the child bride, has put pressure on international organizations to act. However, the lack of diplomatic relations with the Taliban and their rejection of external criticism complicates efforts to effect change.
Sanctions, aid restrictions, and ICC warrants have so far failed to alter the Taliban’s policies, leaving Afghan girls in a precarious position. The international community must find new ways to support Afghan women and girls, whether through targeted aid programs, advocacy for education, or stronger diplomatic pressure on the Taliban to reform their policies.
The marriage of a six-year-old girl to a 45-year-old man in Afghanistan’s Helmand province is a sickening reminder of the ongoing crisis of child marriage in the country. Facilitated by the cultural practice of walwar wadwar and enabled by the absence of legal protections under Taliban rule, this case highlights the dire situation for girls in Afghanistan.
The surge in child marriages since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, driven by economic desperation and restrictive policies on women’s rights, has created a humanitarian disaster. The international community’s efforts to hold the Taliban accountable, including ICC arrest warrants, have been met with resistance, leaving Afghan girls like the one in Helmand vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
Addressing this crisis requires a multifaceted approach, including economic support for Afghan families, advocacy for the reinstatement of legal protections for girls, and sustained international pressure on the Taliban to uphold women’s rights.
The global outcry over cases like the one in Helmand must translate into concrete action to protect Afghan girls from early marriage and ensure their access to education and opportunities. Until meaningful change occurs, stories like this will continue to haunt Afghanistan, a stark reminder of the urgent need for reform in a country where the rights of women and girls are under relentless attack.