Although the Department for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice in Faryab says that, based on the country’s existing laws, they prevent underage and forced marriages, some women in Faryab told Salam Watandar that, because they were unaware of their right to give consent, they were subjected to child and forced marriages. These marriages have occurred in recent years due to families’ economic difficulties.
Karima, a 25-year-old resident of ‘Kohistan’ district in Faryab province, who was forced into marriage at the age of 10 and is now the mother of five children, said that her first pregnancy was painful and dangerous because her body was not yet ready for motherhood. After the death of her husband, she now lives alone. She explained:
“My life has never been easy. I struggle every day so that my children do not go hungry, but I myself am tired and sick. I am not satisfied with my life, but I have no choice but to continue. My husband worked in Iran, but many years ago, while working, he fell from the top of a construction site and died, and I was forced to become the guarderner of my family.”
Ayesha, a 20-year-old resident of ‘Firdaws’ district in Faryab province, said she was married at the age of 13, and seven years have passed since her marriage. She explained that after a few years, due to her husband’s addiction and violence, she returned to her father’s home and now lives with her young daughter. She added,
“My husband used to argue with me and beat me, and now he has been gone for some time, and I do not know where he is or what he is doing. My daughter and I are left alone. I am not satisfied with my life; poverty forced me into this situation.”
Aziza, a 17-year-old resident of Maimana city, the center of Faryab province, was forced to marry at the age of 14 because her younger brother suffered a birth-related neck injury and the family was unable to afford his treatment. Aziza’s marriage was seen as the only option to improve the family’s situation.
“Every day I am afraid that my children will starve or get sick. My husband is unemployed and cannot provide for our livelihood; life has become very difficult.” she explained.
Adela Zamani, a psychologist, described the situation of these girls as very concerning. She said, “Early marriage threatens girls’ physical and mental health.” She explained that if a girl has not reached full maturity, she cannot manage married life, which can cause serious problems in the future. She added that early marriage creates anxiety, stress, and adjustment difficulties in girls’ lives.
Muzhda Azizi, a women’s rights activist, spoke about the causes of child marriage, saying, “Poverty, economic hardship, and social pressures force families to marry off their daughters early. This not only violates girls’ human rights but also endangers their physical and mental health.”
From a religious perspective, Abdul Hamid, a religious scholar, stated that in Islamic Sharia, the marriage of a girl without her consent is not permissible. He explained that no one—not even her parents—has the right to force a girl to marry before she reaches puberty or without her consent. He added, “Forced marriage is not only forbidden under Sharia but also endangers a girl’s physical, mental, and social health.”
However, a source from the Department for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice in Faryab, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “Whenever a marriage involving a girl under the legal age is attempted, even if the family consents, we intervene to prevent it. If the girl does not consent, the marriage is declared invalid. Complaints are promptly investigated, and offenders are referred to judicial authorities.”
According to a UNICEF report released in 2023, approximately 28–29% of girls in Afghanistan are married before the age of 18, and about 9% are married before the age of 15. Additionally, UNAMA warned in a 2022 report that the ongoing economic crisis is increasing the risk of child marriage.
