Following the widespread ban on girls’ education by the Taliban, underage marriages in Afghanistan have surged dramatically. Many families, driven by the prohibition of education, escalating poverty, and fear of their daughters being married to Taliban fighters, have stripped their girls of their childhood dreams.
Forced and underage marriages are among the greatest challenges facing Afghan girls. Many of these girls are compelled into early marriages due to their families’ economic pressures and fears of being wed to Taliban fighters.
Firoza (pseudonym), a girl who was married to a 27-year-old man at the age of 13, is now 16 and has a young child. She says her father worked in national security under the previous government but became unemployed after the Taliban took control, while her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Firoza, the eldest child in her family, says she suffered greatly from her parents’ dire living conditions. She adds that when her husband’s family approached with promises of a job and financial help for her father, he forced her to agree to the marriage. Firoza says, “Although my husband is a good person and understands me, it’s still a bit difficult for me. I feel inadequate. I can’t make decisions. When my son is sick or cries, I cry too.”
Zohra (pseudonym), a 17-year-old girl, is another victim of child marriage in Afghanistan. She says that after the Taliban seized Kabul, reports spread that the Taliban were forcibly marrying girls. Meanwhile, her cousin, who had previously proposed to her, threatened to abduct her if she refused to marry him. Fearing for their daughter’s safety and future, Zohra’s family decided to marry her to a relative to protect her. She adds, “When I see my cousins living abroad, I feel sorry for myself. I wish I had been born abroad; maybe I would have been happy too.”
However, some doctors and psychologists have expressed concern about the consequences of underage marriages, emphasizing that such marriages severely threaten girls’ physical and mental health.
Suhaila (pseudonym), a doctor, warns about the serious consequences of early marriage, stating that marrying girls aged 12 to 14 is highly dangerous. According to her, at this age, the body, particularly the reproductive system, is not fully developed. Pregnancy at this age can lead to complications such as physical disability, malnutrition, unhealthy newborns, and severe difficulties during childbirth. Suhaila adds: “In many cases, due to insufficient pelvic development, natural childbirth is not possible, posing risks to the lives of both the mother and the baby.”
She further notes: “Hormonal changes caused by early pregnancy can also increase the risk of serious diseases such as breast, cervical, and ovarian cancer.”
Yasna (pseudonym), a psychologist, emphasizes that marriage before the age of 18, when an individual’s identity is not fully formed, can lead to identity disorders. According to her, this situation can cause problems such as depression, anxiety, domestic violence, and an inability to manage life.
She adds: “The lack of psychological and social readiness at this age makes individuals more vulnerable to life’s pressures.”
The closure of schools and universities is also a key factor contributing to the rise in forced and underage marriages.
Ali, a 63-year-old father of four daughters, says that as a father, he dreamed of his daughters getting an education and serving society. He emphasizes that, in the absence of educational opportunities, he was forced to marry off his daughters, viewing it as his final responsibility toward them. Ali says he sees no other future for his daughters.
Meanwhile, Save the Children Fund has highlighted in a report that denying girls education will increase poverty and underage marriages in Afghanistan.
The United Nations Women’s agency has also warned that the ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan will lead to a 25 percent increase in underage marriages. According to the agency, this ban will increase early childbearing by 45 percent and maternal mortality by up to 50 percent.
Furthermore, Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, emphasized in a report that the deprivation of women and girls from education, particularly under families’ financial pressures, has heightened the risk of forced and underage marriages.
According to statistics from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2.2 million girls in Afghanistan have been deprived of education due to these restrictions, with 400,000 of them affected in the current year. UNICEF has warned that if this ban continues until 2030, over 4 million girls will be denied their right to education.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
سایه شوم فقر و سیاهی حاکمیت طالبان؛ داستان تلخ ازدواج دختران زیر سن
