In an attempt to ward off criticism surrounding strong anti-women stance, the Taliban have ordered banning forced marriages in Afghanistan.
In a decree, the new rulers of the war-torn country said women must not be taken as ‘property’ and should be given consent to marriage. Despite this decree, questions still persist about the group’s willingness to extend such order for women’s rights around education and work.
Announcing the decision, Taliban chief Hibatullah Akhunzada said that both men and women must be treated equally and no one can compel women to marry by compulsion of force. The decree lacks mentioning of a minimum age for tying the knot as it was earlier set at 16 years old.
The Taliban added that a widow will now be given permission to re-marry 17 weeks following her husband’s death, selecting her new husband on her free will.
Old tribal customs and traditions have held it as a norm for a widow to tie the knot with one of her husband’s brothers or relatives after his death.
