Taliban Authorities Halt Three Forced Marriages in Balkh, Kunar, and Parwan Provinces

According to officials from the Taliban’s Department for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, three cases of forced marriages in the provinces of Balkh, Kunar, and Parwan have been stopped following the filing of complaints and subsequent investigations. The department stated that these actions were taken to prevent marriages without the consent of women, in accordance with Islamic jurisprudence principles.

Based on the information provided, families attempted to marry off their daughters against their will. After receiving the complaints, the department’s staff contacted the families and halted the marriage processes.

Officials said the involved families were summoned to the department and were educated about the right of women to choose their spouse and the necessity of obtaining women’s consent in marriage. According to them, the families pledged that future marriages of their daughters will only occur with the complete consent of the women themselves.

While the Taliban administration presents this move as a sign of their commitment to “protecting women’s rights,” critics point out that widespread restrictions on women’s education, work, and social presence across the country raise serious concerns about the actual status of women’s rights. They argue that such interventions, although positive, cannot replace a comprehensive and transparent framework to guarantee women’s fundamental rights.