LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Officials in southern Helmand province have termed receiving dowry --- Walwar in Pashto language --- illegal and anybody involved in this practice would be referred to judicial organs.
Information and Cultural Affairs Deputy Director Mawalvi Mohammad Qasim Riyaz said: “Dowry is prohibited in Islam and Mehar was the legal right of a lady others --- father, brother or relatives did not have the right to receive it.”
It is pertinent to mention that last Friday a special sermon in this regard was read out during Friday prayers in which it was clearly said that dowry was illegal and the Mehar amount was the right of bride.
The Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs asked Imams of mosque to spread the message and give awareness to the people in this regard.
Part of the sermon said: “Mehar is the right of bride and receiving dowry has no legal justification.”
Helmand deputy director of information said individual violating the orders of Hajj and Religious Affairs orders would be referred to judicial organs for punishment.
Helmand ulema and common people also hailed the decision of the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs.
Mohammad Wali Mohammadi, the resident of Lashkargah, said: “In our village bride parents take up to three million Pakistani rupees from the groom. Most youth did not have the financial ability to pay and are forced to illegally migrate to other countries for work.”
“All people in Afghanistan are Muslim therefore they should avoid receiving bribe, they should not take money from grooms and should select the amount of Mehar and give it to the girl,” he said.
Gul Ahmad, the resident of Naad Ali, said: “Most of the time youth did not have the ability to pay dowry and they are forced to travel to foreign countries illegally, their fiancés stay at their parents’ house for years.”
He called on religious scholars to spread awareness among people in this regard and added if people know that dowry is illegal in Islam they will stop receiving it.
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