The move announced by the Taliban’s supreme leader, Mullah Hebatullah Akhundzada, came as poverty escalated in Afghanistan, after the movement’s seizure of power in August, which prompted foreign governments to cut funding that was a mainstay of the economy.
“(men and women) should be equal,” the decree stated, adding that “no one can force a woman to marry under duress or pressure.”
Women’s rights have improved significantly over the past two decades of the international presence in Afghanistan, but these rights are seen as threatened with the return of the Taliban, whose previous rule in the 1990s saw women virtually isolated.
Forced marriage is becoming more common in the poor and conservative country, where internally displaced people marry off their young daughters in exchange for a dowry that can be used to pay off debts and feed their families.
The decree announced on Friday did not mention the minimum age for marriage, which had previously been set at 16.
For decades, women in Afghanistan were treated as royalty – as a trade-off for blood money problems or ending tribal feuds or feuds. The Taliban now says it is against the practice. They also said that a widow will now be allowed to remarry 17 weeks after her husband’s death, and freely choose her new husband.
Ancient tribal traditions made it customary for a widow to marry one of her husband’s brothers or relatives in the event of his death.
The Taliban leadership says it has instructed Afghan courts to treat women fairly, especially widows seeking inheritance, as relatives. The group also says it has asked government ministers to spread awareness of women’s rights among the population.
Friday’s announcement comes as thousands of girls from grades seven through twelve are still banned from school and the majority of women are prevented from returning to their jobs since the Taliban seized power.
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