45-year-old Afghan Man Marries 6-year-old Girl As Third Wife, Taliban Intervenes, Says He Must Wait Until The Girl Is 9
A deeply troubling case in Afghanistan has once again drawn attention to the growing crisis of child marriage under Taliban rule.
A 45-year-old man recently attempted to marry a 6-year-old girl in Helmand province, reportedly after the child was given away by her father in exchange for money. The girl would have been his third wife.
The planned marriage triggered widespread outrage after a photo surfaced showing the man standing next to the child.
Public backlash prompted the Taliban to intervene. According to reports by Amu.tv, both the man and the girl’s father were arrested.
While no formal charges were brought against either of the men, local media reports that the Taliban authorities have ordered the man to delay taking the girl home until she turns nine—further fueling concern among human rights groups and international observers.
UN Women reported a 25% rise in child marriages in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s 2021
