UN Expresses Grave Concern Over New Taliban Marriage Law
Quick Look
- The UN voiced "grave concern" over a new Taliban decree on marriage separation, citing provisions on child marriage and the interpretation of a girl's silence as consent.
- Afghanistan's government rejected the accusations, stating the decree adheres to Islamic law.
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Why It Matters
The United Nations has expressed concerns over a new law issued by Afghanistan's Taliban government concerning marriage separation. The law includes provisions on child marriage and the interpretation of a girl's silence as consent, which the UN states entrenches discrimination against women and girls. The Taliban government has rejected these accusations, asserting the decree aligns with Islamic law and that forced marriage of girls is already banned.
The United Nations expressed “grave concern” on Thursday about a new law issued by Afghanistan’s Taliban government on separation in marriage which includes provisions on child marriage, saying the code further entrenches discrimination against women and girls.
The government rejected the accusations, saying the decree follows Islamic law and insisting the country has already banned the forced marriage of girls.
Afghanistan’s justice ministry published Decree No 18 “on judicial separation of spouses” last week, which sets out rules for separation of a married couple.
Among its most controversial provisions, it says the silence of a girl reaching puberty can be interpreted as consent to marriage.
It also includes a section on the separation of girls who reach puberty and are married, which “implies that child marriage is permitted”, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a statement.
“This undermines the principle of free and full consent and failing to safeguard the best interests of the child,” it said.
Open Questions
- What specific legal framework does the Taliban government claim the decree follows?
- What are the implications of interpreting a girl's silence as consent to marriage under Islamic law?
- What measures, if any, has Afghanistan taken to enforce the ban on forced marriage of girls?
- How will UNAMA's concerns be addressed by the Taliban government?
