The Taliban has adopted rules permitting child marriage in Afghanistan

The Taliban, which controls Afghanistan, has adopted rules permitting marriage to minors. 

This was reported by the independent Afghan media outlet Amu TV. The regulations, titled “Principles of Separate Residence for Spouses,” were approved by the movement’s leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.

According to the document, an unmarried woman’s silence after reaching sexual maturity in response to a marriage proposal may be considered consent to marriage, whereas this rule does not apply to young men or previously married women. Parents and close relatives have been granted broad authority to arrange child marriages. A marriage contract is considered legally valid even if concluded by other relatives, provided there is social compatibility and an appropriate dowry, and a girl can only annul such a marriage through the courts after reaching sexual maturity. Against this backdrop, Russia has officially recognized the Taliban’s authority, despite international criticism regarding human rights violations and gender-based persecution in the country.

Earlier, the Taliban’s supreme leader issued an order banning the construction of windows in residential buildings that face areas used by Afghan women. In existing buildings, such windows must be blocked.

The Taliban authorities have banned most female employees of humanitarian organizations from working, which, according to humanitarian workers, has complicated access to women in need and could lead to donors suspending funding.