Food shortages in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan are forcing hungry families to sell their children
But Parwana's laughter disappears as she returns home, a small hut with dirt walls, where she's reminded of her fate: she's being sold to a stranger as a child bride.The man who wants to buy Parwana says he's 55, but to her, he's"an old man" with white eyebrows and a thick white beard, she told CNN on October 22. She worries he will beat her and force her to work in his house.
Qorban didn't describe the sale as a marriage, saying he already had a wife who would look after Parwana as if she were one of their own children. " was cheap, and her father was very poor and he needs money," Qorban said."She will be working in my home. I won't beat her. I will treat her like a family member. I will be kind.
"As long as a girl is in school, her family is invested in her future," said Barr, from Human Rights Watch."As soon as a girl falls out of education, then suddenly it becomes much more likely that she's going to be married off."And once a girl is sold as a bride, her chances of continuing an education or pursuing an independent path are close to zero. Instead, she faces a much darker future.
He is prepared to sell the girls for 100,000 Afghanis each. Zaiton, the 4-year-old, with wispy bangs and large brown eyes, said she knows why this is happening:"Because we are a poor family and we don't have food to eat."Their grandmother, Rokhshana, is distraught."If we have food and there is someone to help us, we would never do this," Rokhshana said through tears."We don't have any choice.
Back in the Afghan displacement camp in Badghis province, Malik is under no illusions about what the sale means for his daughter -- or what the grim situation means for his family's future.Qorban said he will use his daughter as a worker not a bride, but Malik knows he has no control over what happens to her now."The old man told me, 'I'm paying for the girl. It's none of your business what I'm doing with her ... that's my business,'" Malik told CNN.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
I never told my daughter she was adopted—then she discovered it on her ownIt was the worst thing I could have done and almost destroyed our relationship permanently.
Read more »
Love Island’s Millie says she ‘manifested’ Liam before she went on dating showMillie Court was one of the new bombshells to enter the villa on day eight, coupling up with Welsh hunk Liam Reardon shortly afterwards, and despite a cheating scandal, the loved-up duo won the £50,000 prize
Read more »
Little Mix's Leigh-Anne insist she has no plans to share her twins' namesThe singer is the proud mother to twins – having welcomed her babies alongside husband-to-be Andre Gray back in early August. Fans are yet to learn what the babies are called – but may never know the answer.
Read more »
Zara Tindall dazzles in leather mini shorts as she and Mike celebrate Storm Keating's 40th birthdayPrincess Anne's daughter and her husband Mike Tindall enjoyed a night out celebrating Ronan Keating's wife's surprise 40th
Read more »
Huma Abedin, longtime Clinton aide, defends decision not to name senator she says kissed her
Read more »
Megan Fox Will Wear Whatever She Wants, Thank You Very MuchIncluding her new collection with Boohoo.
Read more »