HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): A 16-year-old bride in the Pashton Zarghon district of western Herat province on Wednesday claimed her husband had accused her of losing virginity before their marriage and now he wanted her to face a Taliban’s kangaroo court.
The bride, Aziza, said two days after their marriage, her husband accused her of not being virgin.
She along with her brother approached the Prevention of Violence against Women Commission (PVWC) in Herat after 20 days of efforts to restore her dignity and protect her from the Taliban’s trial.
She was married to a man in the Pashton Zarghon district against 700,000 afghanis mehar.
The marriage took place 20 days ago after the groom was able to pay 250,000 afghanis of her meher but after two days of their marriage, the man alleged his wife had lost virginity before the wedlock.
Her husband referred the case to a Taliban’s Kangaroo court in the Kashmeran locality, asking for the return of his 250,000 afs and the trial of her wife.
According to Aziza, the Taliban often asked for her appearance in their court. She said if her dignity was not restored and judicial organs did not address her case, she would commit suicide.
Aziza said she was ready to undergo medical test of virginity but her husband was not ready.
Wakeel Ahmad, not a real name, the brother of Aziza, said: “If the Taliban tried his sister, she will be stoned to death without her crime proven”.
He said the government was yet to reach them to address their complaint, asking concerned authorities to ensure justice in the case.
Fatema Khawari, member of the PVWC, confirmed the incident and added the bride and her family were ready to conduct a virginity test.
She added under article 640 of the penal code, the virginity test could not be performed until the husband registers a case against his wife in the Attorney General Office (AGO).
Aziza said her husband was currently with the Taliban in Kashmeran valley and he would not appear before the AGO.
Provincial Hajj and Religious Affairs Director Abdul Khaleq Haqqani said in line with the teachings of Islam, no husband could claim virginity loss against his wife until there was credible evidence.
nh/ma
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