The Amu Television, citing The Washington Post, reports that in the “Shahrak Sabz” of Herat alone, families have sold 118 girls aged eight to ten to adult men, with 116 more families waiting to sell their underage daughters. From northern Afghanistan, Hasht-e-Subh daily reports that at least 70 children under the age of five have been sold in the provinces of Jowzjan, Faryab, and Samangan. The content of these two reports is not only deeply disturbing and saddening but can be considered the tip of the iceberg or the peak of an iceberg in terms of child exploitation. Child marriages have a long history in our society, but these reports are more alarming because the rate of child trafficking and child marriages has seen a significant increase compared to previous years. While poverty and unemployment are cited as the main reasons for selling girls in these reports, this note delves into whether poverty and unemployment are the sole reasons for selling girls or if there are other factors at play.
First Topic:
In Persian literature, there is a famous couplet by Ferdowsi which says:
Knowledge is power;
Happiness from wisdom will arise;
This seemingly simple couplet carries a profound message on its own. Acquiring knowledge leads to capability, and whoever gains more knowledge undoubtedly becomes more capable. Conversely, those with less knowledge are weaker and poorer. According to the Afghanistan Statistical Yearbook (National Statistics and Information Authority), the literacy rate in the country in 2020 was only 20% among women over 15 years old. This means that 80% of women over 15 years old cannot read and write and, according to the wisdom expressed in the above poem, they are powerless.
On the other hand, the fertility rate in Afghanistan is high compared to the global average and that of Asian and South Asian countries. The fertility rate in this country was 4.41 in 2020, while it was 2.47 globally, 2.15 in Asia, and 2.40 in South Asia. Numerous studies have shown an inverse relationship between parents’ (especially mothers’) education level and the number of children; the more educated mothers are, the fewer children they have. From the two points mentioned above, it can be concluded that most families in Afghanistan not only lack literacy but also have more children.
Second Topic:
In the Hasht-e-Subh daily, it is stated that over 70% of the sold children have been girls. The Washington Post report also mentions that 40% of the interviewed families have either sold or intend to sell their daughters aged eight to ten. Before this, there have been reports of selling women and girls. For instance, in 2013, Tolo News reported that on average, at least two women are sold daily in the Shinwari district of Nangarhar province. Rifenburg, in an article titled “Afghanistan After the Taliban: A Change of Outlook for Women?” in 2004, cited a report of a family selling their daughter in exchange for a 100-kilogram sack of flour.
We all know that selling one’s child is an inhumane and illegal act; however, this un-Islamic and inhumane practice unfortunately occurs in our society, and we witness numerous examples of it. The question is, why are families willing to easily sell their daughters while being cautious about their sons? From an Islamic perspective, does selling a daughter in exchange for money or food without her consent have any justification? Surely the answer is “no.” So why are parents willing to easily sell their young daughters?
Poverty may be one of the factors, but it cannot be the only factor. Social norms prevailing in certain segments of our society perceive daughters as commodities that families can sell when needed. This practice may take place under different names. Sometimes a girl is given away due to a crime committed by her father, brother, or another male family member (for example, a family that lacks economic means may give away their daughter as compensation or blood money). Or she might be exchanged with another girl, or even a father might gamble away his daughter. Regardless of the name given to it, the goal is the same: the exploitation of the girl, which we see numerous examples of in society. Reducing the selling of daughters to the problems of poverty and unemployment ignores the hidden aspects of the issue, which steers us away from finding a solution.
On the other hand, poor and illiterate parents consider their daughters as an additional burden on the family and, metaphorically speaking, as “extra bread.” However, in the norms governing our society, the daughter is considered the “property of the people.” Poor, traditional, and ignorant families believe that it’s better for this “extra bread” and “property of the people” to leave the house as soon as possible. Therefore, parents, with this mindset, want to use poverty as an excuse to not only reduce their “extra bread” from the house but also to receive some money, livestock, or food supplies so that they can cover the remaining expenses of the household. They do not think about the possible consequences that may occur to their daughter, possibly a minor, because it doesn’t matter to them.
If the selling of daughters is driven by desperation, better alternatives are available. For example, all family members can seek employment. If jobs are not available, they can consider migration or even resort to begging or any other means besides selling their children. However, these families, without considering such options, only see selling their daughters as the solution that comes to mind, even though selling daughters may not provide for their economic needs beyond a few months.
On the other hand, families who buy these young girls do not accept any responsibility for ensuring their rights. Most families use them not as brides and family members, but as servants and laborers whose duty is to serve the husband, the husband’s parents, and bear children. The offspring of these girls also become victims of patriarchal values just like their mothers, as their level of awareness and knowledge remains unchanged, and their perspective on male dominance (the head of the household) also remains unchanged. This vicious cycle continues in this manner.
Final Words:
In conclusion, the reality is that the prevailing custom in our society is entirely patriarchal. In this custom, women have never been considered equal to men. The selling of girls and women also has a long history, occurring under different names but with the same nature. However, in traditional, poor, and low-income families, daughters are seen as burdens on the family, and parents strive to relieve themselves of this burden.
The worsening economic conditions that have prevailed after the collapse of the republic have exacerbated this undesirable phenomenon. Therefore, many families who cannot afford to meet their economic needs try to reduce the “extra bread” in their families. Unfortunately, due to the patriarchal values prevalent in society, daughters become the first victims of this decision. Until there is no change in the level of literacy and awareness within families, there will be no change in the rate of selling daughters, and this vicious cycle will continue.