A 45-year-old man has married a six-year-old girl in Helmand province, according to local sources.
The marriage reportedly took place in Marjah district of Helmand province. The man, who already has two wives, is said to have paid the girl’s family money in exchange for the marriage.
Following this, the Taliban’s Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice intervened and instructed the man that he is not allowed to live with the girl or treat the marriage as valid until she turns 9.
The case has sparked public concern, highlighting the ongoing issue of underage and forced marriages in Afghanistan, particularly involving girls too young to understand or consent.
Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, child marriages have increased significantly across Afghanistan. Activists attribute the rise to worsening poverty and the Taliban’s strict restrictions on women and girls, including the ban on female education.
UN Women reported last year that the ban on girls’ education led to a 25% increase in child marriages and a 45% rise in childbirth among girls in the country.
Rights groups warn that child marriage poses serious risks to girls’ health, safety, and wellbeing. Girls forced into early marriage often face early pregnancies, domestic violence, and social isolation.
