[71574] Reports of a dramatic change: The Taliban lowers the minimum marriage age for girls

Change in the Taliban's marriage policy in Afghanistan

Reports coming from Afghanistan point to another stringent step by the Taliban regime regarding the rights of women and girls. According to اخبارفوری خبرفوری جنگ امریکا فوری and اخبارفوری خبرفوری جنگ امریکا حمله, the organization announced a reduction of the minimum marriage age allowed for girls from 16 to 9 years.

The Telegram channel یِ دانش آموز elaborated on the details and stated that according to a new Taliban law, the previous limit of 16 years has been abolished. Instead, it was decided that the criterion for marriage will be "reaching puberty," which in practice means that girls may be permitted to marry starting from age 9.

These are channels identified with critical positions toward regional policy and developments within Afghanistan under Taliban rule. The information raises grave concern among human rights organizations against the backdrop of the reduction of the rights of women and girls in the country since the organization's rise to power.