Young Afghan women face forced marriage amid ongoing education ban
Nearly five years after the Taliban banned girls over 12 from attending school in Afghanistan, many young women have been forced to abandon their educational dreams and face early marriage. The ban has severely limited opportunities for girls and women, pushing many towards marriage as their only option.
Why this matters
The education ban has had a profound impact on the lives of millions of Afghan girls, depriving them of formal schooling and narrowing their future prospects. Without access to education, these young women face increased risks of forced and child marriage, perpetuating cycles of poverty and gender inequality in a country already struggling with low female literacy rates.
Stories of resistance and loss
Alia, a 19-year-old from Daykundi province, fled her village by taxi to Kabul to escape a forced marriage. Traveling covered from head to toe with her cousin to comply with Taliban rules, she managed to reach the capital without being stopped at checkpoints. In Kabul, she enrolled in a private English language course, one of the few educational options available to girls beyond primary school. However, these courses are costly and limited in scope, falling far short of formal education.
Alia’s family supports her education financially, but they also believe marriage is the best path forward given the ban on schooling and work for women. She has received marriage proposals and fears losing the freedom she currently has. Despite this, she remains determined to resist marriage as long as possible.
Shama, another young woman from Kabul, was forced to marry at 18 after the Taliban takeover. Her mother, Kamila, who had worked hard to educate her daughters after her husband’s death, felt pressured to marry Shama off to avoid negative attention from Taliban authorities. Shama had dreamed of becoming a doctor but now lives confined to her home, caring for her children and grieving lost opportunities.
Shama’s younger sister, Nora, fears she will face the same fate. She wants to continue her education but doubts schools will reopen for girls anytime soon. The Taliban government has repeatedly delayed reopening secondary schools for girls, citing various reasons but offering no clear timeline.
Ongoing restrictions and government stance
The Taliban government continues to enforce strict rules limiting women’s freedoms, including bans on education beyond grade six and restrictions on travel without male escorts. Taliban officials have given inconsistent explanations for the education ban and have not provided a clear plan to reopen schools for girls.
While some Taliban spokespeople highlight permits issued to women to run businesses and efforts to address forced marriages, recent laws have implied legal approval of child marriage, allowing a minor girl’s silence to be interpreted as consent. Evidence suggests that forced and underage marriages are increasing as girls are barred from schooling.
Impact on Afghan women and girls
The education ban and related restrictions have left many women feeling abandoned and hopeless. Alia recalls the day schools closed as one of deep sorrow, and Nora questions why she was born in Afghanistan given the lack of opportunities. The loss of education has not only curtailed personal ambitions but also diminished women’s presence in public life and their ability to contribute to society.
Kamila, the mother of Shama and Nora, urges mothers worldwide to allow their daughters to study and work, emphasizing the importance of independence for women.
Recommended reading
For more context, see related Peack News coverage and explainers linked below.
