10 year old afghani girl sold to an elderly man

[Soubriquet]

To “help around the house” he said.

That poor girl. And the other girls that have been sold or are in the process of being sold

link

[Porfre]

@beastlyslumber

What else are they supposed to do *@Porfre*? How about not sell their infant daughters to be raped and enslaved.

Fucking hell. Where is your humanity?

I have humanity.
Their only other option is to kill themself and their children.

There is no help. There is no other option. Selling their sons first instead isnt going to change the situation in any way.

I think it's less humane to sit here and condemn them for their actions.

They have no choice. There is no other option. No one is there offering them aid or assistance. They are trying to survive. The only other option is to kill themself and their family.

[Dyrne]

I wouldn’t be so quick to judge the parents - heartbreakingly in lots of these cases girls that aren’t married off young are then targeted for attacks or prostitution.

It’s a cruel situation that means parents have to effectively think it may be better to be raped by only one man than raped by many.

Of course the proper outcome should be that girls shouldn’t be raped at all but sadly that is not an option in these situations.

[Toodlydoo]

I believe this is culturally not unusual in afghanistan, to exchange children for debts, it’s nit a recent phenomenon. Also read that 87% of women and girls in Afghanistan have experienced domestic violence. It is sickening tbh, utterly awful place for women and girls. many Afghan women apparently prefer Shariah over pashtunwallah bechause its better for them so some (probably in rural areas) prefer the taliban to secular governments.

All in all it induces either feelings of rage or despair in me. I can’t imagine doing that to my DD 🙁

[Ozanj]

In the form of Islam they practice prostitution is only legal via temporary marriage. The man was posturing for the camera - in reality he is pimping his daughters (which is why he received payment when it’s usually the other way around) that girl has probably had dozens of husbands. Most poor Afghan parents don’t do this - the usual course of events for paying off debts is to indenture the son into an industry like farming or construction.

[Dyrne]

@Libertaire

What do you expect in one of the most backward, barbaric and misogynistic religious cultures in the world?

I take it you have the same view of the US, where Child marriage is also legal?

[generalh]

Don't seem to sell their sons to feed the family do they?

[Ozanj]

@generalh

Don't seem to sell their sons to feed the family do they?

Across South Asia indenturing sons or prostituting daughters via temporary marriage is how you repay debts if you’re poor. The man in the article was a pimp pure and simple - that poor girl probably has had dozens of ‘husbands’.

[Marchingredsoldiers]

Ozanj thanks for your insight. Do you have experience or knowledge of this area? Can you give some resources to read about it more?

[Soubriquet]

@Ozanj

In the form of Islam they practice prostitution is only legal via temporary marriage. The man was posturing for the camera - in reality he is pimping his daughters (which is why he received payment when it’s usually the other way around) that girl has probably had dozens of husbands. Most poor Afghan parents don’t do this - the usual course of events for paying off debts is to indenture the son into an industry like farming or construction.

God I think that’s even worse. If she was properly married off, at least it would have only been the one man

But being sold multiple times to different men is beyond belief. And the fact he’s talking about doing it with a 2 year old

It’s pure pedophilia. Surely that is against the Koran?

[IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves]

If there's one thing we know about religious books it's that men who are so inclined will always find a way to use them to justify abuse or ignore them so they can abuse.

Abuse being sexual, physical, financial and so on.

[Littleducks]

I'm not sure about the dowry claim up thread in islamic rules it is always paid by the man. It is supposed to be paid to the woman and is her independent wealth but no chance of anything like that occurring with these poor children.

You can understand now why families were handing over their children to soldiers as troops left. That was condemned on here at the time but it was fear of situations like this.

I have no idea what to do, I would happily donate to a charity to protect these girls but I don't think anything is operating on the ground?

[Ozanj]

@Marchingredsoldiers

Ozanj thanks for your insight. Do you have experience or knowledge of this area? Can you give some resources to read about it more?

Only from my volunteer work locally in the UK with survivors or women whose daughters are being threatened with this. There are no specific charities to my knowledge. In terms of temporary marriages - this is a problem across the Middle East and one of the reasons why many Gulf countries don’t recognise marriages with Yemeni brides (as it tends to be a huge problem there). It has been going on so long and openly in Afghanistan and Pakistan with Afghan girls and in India with Nepali / Bangla girls that it’s almost become part of the culture.

[Ozanj]

@Littleducks

I'm not sure about the dowry claim up thread in islamic rules it is always paid by the man. It is supposed to be paid to the woman and is her independent wealth but no chance of anything like that occurring with these poor children.

You can understand now why families were handing over their children to soldiers as troops left. That was condemned on here at the time but it was fear of situations like this.

I have no idea what to do, I would happily donate to a charity to protect these girls but I don't think anything is operating on the ground?

Male dowry are nominal amounts in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pushtun culture still demands female brides pay dowries via jewellry / cash / houses / household goods / farm animals. You can tell a Shariah marriage is probably dodgy or at least not regarded long term if there is nothing provided by the woman. In some cases, for example older widows needing a husband for a little while until sons are of age to support them, that is intentional. But not for young women. It is so shit.

[Starpleck]

Its really heartbreaking, and I can't imagine how terrifying it must be for so many women and girls over there.

[MrsManders]

Poor people? How can they do that? I’d rather kill myself and my family before selling my little girl to a peodophile. Disgusting.

[ChardonnaysPetDragon]

How can anyone sell their child?

[ShirleyPhallus]

My god this is so upsetting, one story said the family would sell their daughter for £800. Id happily give a large donation to stop that happening, does anyone know of any organisations who can facilitate this?

I have a toddler DD and cannot imagine this. These poor people.

[beigebrownblue]

@stingofthebutterfly

I read this yesterday. My heart is absolutely breaking for these little girls. These men have so much to answer for. There are no words that can truly express how this makes me feel.

Well yes, do something about it then if you have the means.

What's wrong with listening to Woman's hour or googling it.

Goodness me, how ignorant are some people on here.

You have money to donate? Just do it then.
Instead. of agonising in your middle class suburbs...

[beigebrownblue]

Here you go.
Only took me ten seconds out of my day to google this...

womenforwomen.org.uk/work-we-do/afghanistan-response

[GreyhoundG1rl]

You're very aggressive, beigebrownblue

[MrsTerryPratchett]

[quote beigebrownblue]Here you go.
Only took me ten seconds out of my day to google this...

womenforwomen.org.uk/work-we-do/afghanistan-response[/quote]
I've given money to them. I can't say if it will do anything but at least it is support.

I don't think anyone really knows what they would do when starving. People kill, eat each other and yes, sell their children. Unimaginable things. I don't judge the mothers but I am filled with rage at the men involved.

[ShirleyPhallus]

[quote beigebrownblue]Here you go.
Only took me ten seconds out of my day to google this...

womenforwomen.org.uk/work-we-do/afghanistan-response[/quote]
I’ve no idea why you’ve been so bloody rude to a reasonable question on a thread with lots of people who seem to have good knowledge of the topic but thanks anyway for this link.

[LalalalalalaLand123]

I would starve to death before I sold my daughter to a life of slavery and rape.

One million per cent this.

[beigebrownblue]

Oh right, I'm the 'aggressive' one for providing a link that would actually do some good.

Get real. Get street wise.
Stop bleating on. Stop blaming other women (including me)
just do something to help eh.