'Taliban' allows men to marry girls as young as nine

A deeply concerning report from The Times indicates a significant rollback of protections for girls in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. The new "Code for Judicial Separation of Spouses," recently approved by Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, appears to effectively permit marriage for girls as young as nine years old by tying the legal age to the onset of puberty.

This development is a stark departure from previous Afghan legislation, which set the minimum marriage age at 16 for females and 18 for males. While the old law did allow for marriages of girls under 16 with the consent of a father, grandfather, or judge, the new code's explicit linkage to puberty, which can begin as early as eight, represents a alarming shift. This move aligns with a strict interpretation of Sharia traditions, disregarding international norms and the well-being of child brides.

According to UNICEF data, a substantial portion of Afghan women, 28 percent between the ages of 15 and 49, were married before the age of 18. This new regulation is likely to exacerbate the already high rates of child marriage, with severe consequences for the health, education, and overall development of young girls. The international community will undoubtedly scrutinize this decision, which raises serious human rights concerns and undermines efforts to protect vulnerable children in Afghanistan.