Six-Year-Old Girl Forced to Marry a 45-year-Old Man in Afghanistan after Dad Exchanged Her for Money

The haunting photo of an older man, 45, and a little girl, six, standing together horrified even the Taliban, who intervened on the union and insisted they would have to wait until the youngster was nine before she could be taken home

A six-year-old girl in Afghanistan’s Helmand province was allegedly forced into marriage with a 45-year-old man after her father exchanged her for money. The disturbing arrangement, set to take place last Friday, was halted after Taliban authorities intervened, arresting both the father and the groom. While no formal charges were filed, the Taliban reportedly ordered the man to delay the marriage until the girl turns nine.

The groom, who already has two wives, had reportedly paid for the child bride—a practice that has surged under Taliban rule. According to recent reports, child marriages in Afghanistan have risen by 25% since the Taliban banned girls’ education in 2021. Additionally, childbearing among minors has increased by 45%, exacerbating health and humanitarian crises.

Parwana Malik, a nine-year-old girl (pictured) who was sold by her father to a 55-year-old man as a child bride in Afghanistan was rescued by a charity

This case echoes a similar incident from 2021, when a nine-year-old girl, Parwana Malik, was sold by her father to a 55-year-old man for £1,600 in land, sheep, and cash. Parwana had begged to attend school instead, but her family, struggling with extreme poverty, had already sold her 12-year-old sister months earlier. A U.S.-based charity, Too Young to Wed, rescued Parwana and relocated her family to a safe house in Herat. The case sparked international outrage, prompting U.S. female senators to urge President Joe Biden to take action against child marriages in Afghanistan.

Beyond forced marriages, young boys in Afghanistan also face exploitation under the brutal tradition of Bacha Bazi ("boy play"), where boys are dressed as women, forced to dance, and sexually abused by powerful men. Despite Taliban claims of opposing the practice, reports indicate it remains widespread, with police and military commanders often involved. Survivors describe enduring rape, beatings, and psychological trauma, only to be discarded once they reach adulthood. Many turn to drugs, prostitution, or suicide.

Parwana, her small frame covered in a black head covering and a floral garland around her neck, hid her face from her family and new husband, who she fears will beat her and force her to work

The Taliban’s so-called morality police focus overwhelmingly on restricting women’s rights while ignoring systemic abuse against boys. Since seizing power, the regime has banned girls from primary schools, barred women from universities, and restricted their access to public spaces, including parks and gyms. Over 70 decrees have targeted women’s freedoms, leading to a reported spike in female suicides.

UNICEF warns that the education ban will have devastating long-term effects, pushing more girls into early marriages and worsening health outcomes. If the ban continues until 2025, over four million girls will be deprived of schooling.

Parwana's buyer Qorban (right), who only has one name, arrived at the family's home with the payment to give her father Abdul (left)

In their latest crackdown, the Taliban have forbidden women from speaking loudly in their homes or being heard by outsiders. Violators face arrest. Women must also cover their faces and avoid speaking to unrelated men. The UN reports that nearly 20% of Afghan women have not spoken to anyone outside their immediate family in three months.

Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has condemned the Taliban’s "gender apartheid," calling for global action. "There is no internationally recognized crime that can explain the intensity of oppression Afghan women face," she stated.