Taliban: Forced Marriage of Girls Is Prohibited

DID Press: Zabihullah Mujahid has stated that forced marriage of girls is prohibited under Taliban rules, while defending a newly introduced regulation on “separation of spouses” that has drawn criticism from rights advocates.

Responding to objections over the new directive, Mujahid said opposition to what he described as “Islamic laws” was not new and argued that such criticism should be ignored. He insisted that regulations introduced by the Taliban are “not contrary to Sharia” and said those who “accept Islamic laws should not be concerned.”

Referring to Hanafi jurisprudence, Mujahid stated that fathers and grandfathers may hold guardianship rights over minor children if certain conditions are met, adding that the rule was intended to “facilitate court decisions.”

He further claimed that “marrying girls without their consent is forbidden” and said thousands of forced marriage-related cases had reportedly been handled by courts and relevant institutions over the past year.

The remarks come as international human rights organizations continue to accuse the Taliban of severely restricting women’s rights, dismantling protective legal mechanisms, and creating major barriers to women’s access to justice.