Afghanistan's Taliban government issued a decree on marital separation that includes provisions allowing child marriage, drawing UN criticism.
4:27 PM
The United Nations expressed "grave concern" Thursday about a new law issued by Afghanistan's Taliban government that includes provisions on child marriage, saying the code further entrenches discrimination against women and 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, the decree states that the silence of a girl reaching puberty can be interpreted as consent to marriage.
The Taliban government rejected the accusations, saying the decree follows Islamic law and insisting the country has already banned the forced marriage of girls.
UN officials characterized the new provisions as part of a broader pattern of legal measures that discriminate against women and girls in the country. The decree's language regarding consent through silence has drawn particular scrutiny from international observers concerned about protections for minors.
The Taliban government's position is that the decree aligns with Islamic jurisprudence and that existing prohibitions on forced marriage remain in effect. Officials stated that the new law does not contradict Afghanistan's existing legal framework on marriage.
The publication of Decree No. 18 comes amid ongoing international scrutiny of Taliban policies affecting women's rights and protections for minors in Afghanistan. The decree's provisions on marital separation and the interpretation of consent have become a focal point of debate between the Afghan government and international human rights bodies.
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