11-year-old girl’s forced marriage prevented in Herat

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): The forced marriage of an 11-year-old girl to a 65-year-old man has been prevented and a woman rescued from ‘house arrest’ in western Herat province, an official said on Tuesday.

Shaikh Aziz Ul-Rahman Al-Mahajir, Propagation of Virtue, Prevention of Vice and Hearing Complaints department director, told media that their Muhtasebeen (inspectors) had received accurate information and managed to release a woman in Poshtkuh district who had been illegally imprisoned by her relatives in the absence of her husband and introduced the case to legal authorities.

Separately, the forced marriage of an 11-year-old girl to a 65-year-old man in Adrskan district was prevented and suspects involved in the case were arrested, he added.

However, he did not provide more details about the length of the woman’s illegal detention by her relatives and the number of people arrested in connection with both cases.

Muhajir, emphasizing his department’s commitment to protecting women’s legitimate and religious rights within the framework of Islamic law, said that forced marriage and illegal imprisonment of women was unacceptable in any way.

He called on residents to report such cases to the department if they see them.

The director assured people’s complaints would be addressed immediately in the light of Sharia law, and that his department will not remain indifferent to undesirable customs that are contrary to Islamic values.

hz/ma