45-Year-Old Man Marries 6-Year-Old Girl in Helmand: Taliban Temporarily Halts Child Transfer

45-Year-Old Man Marries 6-Year-Old Girl in Helmand: Taliban Temporarily Halts Child Transfer

Helmand, Afghanistan – June 27, 2025

A 45-year-old man with two existing wives has reportedly married a six-year-old girl in the Marjah district of Helmand province after paying a sum of money to the child’s father. The marriage was officiated by a local cleric, and the man planned to bring the child to his home today, Friday, June 27. However, the Taliban authorities intervened and temporarily halted the transfer of the girl.

According to multiple sources, including reports from Amu TV, the Taliban arrested the man after public outcry, but instead of initiating legal prosecution or annulling the marriage, they advised the man to wait until the girl reaches the age of nine before consummating the union or bringing her into his household.

Widespread Backlash Online

Images of the child marriage quickly spread across Afghan social media platforms, triggering strong condemnation from activists, journalists, and citizens.

• Many users criticized religious figures and clerics involved in such marriages.
• One user wrote on Facebook:

“How is this man any different from a Belarusian monster with a Jewish mindset who smashes a two-year-old to the ground? Both are brutal. Both kill innocence.”

Prominent women’s rights activists have called the incident a gross violation of child rights and a clear example of systemic failures under the Taliban regime.

Legal and Ethical Concerns

Under internationally recognized child protection laws, marriage under the age of 18 is classified as child marriage and is considered a human rights violation. In Afghanistan, however, particularly under Taliban rule, there are no strict legal mechanisms to prevent or criminalize such practices.

• Instead of cancelling the marriage, Taliban officials only advised a delay.
• Sources also say no formal punishment has been imposed on either the groom or the child’s father.
• Some reports suggest the Taliban may allow the union to continue once the girl reaches nine or fifteen years of age, depending on tribal or religious interpretations.

A Rising Trend of Child Marriages

Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, there has been a significant increase in child marriages across Afghanistan, driven by poverty, lack of education, and absence of legal enforcement.

According to UN Women:

• Child marriage has increased by over 25%.
• Births among underage girls have risen by 45%.

This incident adds to a growing list of child marriage cases being reported in Helmand, Ghazni, Badakhshan, and Herat provinces.

Expert Opinion

Human rights observers warn that allowing such marriages — even with a delay — legitimizes the exploitation of minors.

“Delaying the consummation of a child marriage does not make it legal or ethical. It remains a form of violence,” said a Kabul-based child protection advocate.

Medical experts also warn that child brides are at risk of:

• Early pregnancy complications
• Severe psychological trauma
• Educational deprivation
• Long-term social isolation

Conclusion

While Taliban authorities temporarily blocked the transfer of a six-year-old girl to her 45-year-old husband, the failure to annul the marriage or prosecute the individuals involved reflects the deep legal and moral crisis facing Afghanistan’s justice system under the Taliban.

This incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for international human rights organizations to increase pressure on de facto Afghan authorities and protect the rights of the most vulnerable — Afghan children.

Reported by: Ahmad Sohail Parto

For AfgNews24 – www.afgnews24.com