How the Taliban’s unchecked power fuels forced marriage in Afghanistan

Samira* was just 19 years old when she innocently set out on the hour-long walk to her job to collect her wages. As she sat outside the shop waiting for her employer, Samira was gripped with fear when she noticed Taliban officials approaching. After asking her and her employer, 42-year-old Mohammad*, a barrage of questions, the Taliban arrested them on charges of an immoral relationship and transported them to the police station. As reported by The Guardian, this marked the end of Samira’s life as she knew it. By the end of the day, she would be another victim of forced marriage.

Beaten with sticks, shovels, and other tools

The Taliban interrogated Samira and Mohammad with numerous questions about their relationship before taking them to the police station and contacting their families. Samira described her experience:

“No matter how many questions they asked, I had no answers because they kept insulting me with hurtful words and curses. They pushed us into their car and took us to the police station.”

Fearing that Samira would be imprisoned, both families told the Taliban that Samira and Mohammad were engaged. The Taliban responded by forcing them to marry, despite Mohammad already being married with two children. After the marriage ceremony, the Taliban transported them both to Mohammad’s house.

Samira’s sister, Yasmin*, tried to persuade their family to bring Samira home, but their father refused, claiming her honor was lost. But Samira’s ordeal did not end there. After learning what had happened, Samira’s father, uncle, and older brothers, broke into Mohammad’s house and beat Samira with sticks, shovels, and other tools. Samira continued:

“Without knowing the full story, without even asking me why I had gone to the factory’s office at that time of day, they feel entitled to call me a prostitute, just like the Taliban did, and enforce the marriage between Mohammad and me.”

Nowhere to go

Samira dreamed of becoming an engineer before the Taliban took over in 2021 and banned girls over 12 from school. The carpet-weaving shop is one of the few places she and 20 other women and young girls like her can still receive employment, earning about 7,000 Afghanis (£80) a month. Today, banned from her home and forced to live with Mohammad and his first wife, Samira battles depression.

Richard Bennett, UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan warns:

“The ban on girls’ education above grade 6 increases exposure of girls to abuse, including early marriage. These marriages often lead to more suffering for women and girls, including marital rape, abuse, forced pregnancy and forced labour.”

Shaharzad Akbar, director of the Afghan human rights organization Rawadari, stated that the law does not clearly define the Taliban police’s power to marry two individuals. However, the absence of accountability has effectively allowed them to impose their own rules on the spot.

A Taliban spokesperson denied the claims, asserting that they would investigate if true, as no one can be forced into marriage. Although Afghanistan banned forced marriage in 2021, Bennet reports that the practice continues to worsen, particularly in rural and remote areas.

Call to end forced child marriage

Forced marriage is a severe violation of human rights, stripping women and young girls of their autonomy and condemning them to lives of suffering and hardship. Today, an estimated 650 million women and girls were married as children. Every child deserves to grow up feeling safe, with their rights protected—including the right to choose their own future. Join us in the fight to end forced child marriage worldwide by signing our petition today!

*The names in this story have been changed.