Taliban’s New Marriage Law Sparks Global Outrage Over Women’s Rights in Afghanistan

The Taliban administration in Afghanistan is facing intense international criticism after introducing a controversial family law regulation that reportedly allows the silence of an unmarried girl to be treated as consent for marriage, raising fresh concerns over women’s rights and child marriage in the country.

The new 31-article regulation, titled “Principles of Separation Between Spouses,” was approved by Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and recently published in Afghanistan’s official legal framework, according to multiple reports. The law reportedly governs marriage, divorce, child marriage, and separation between spouses.

One of the most debated provisions reportedly states that the silence of a “virgin girl” after puberty may be interpreted as consent to marriage, while silence from a boy or a previously married woman would not automatically count as approval. Critics argue that such a provision raises serious concerns about coercion, especially in a country where girls and women face severe restrictions under Taliban rule.

Reports also indicate that the regulation grants fathers and grandfathers broad authority over marriages involving minors, while annulment options for girls may require approval from Taliban courts after puberty. Human rights organizations and activists have condemned the move, warning that it could further institutionalize child marriage and undermine women’s autonomy.

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban government has imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls, including limits on education, employment, and public participation. Several international organizations and rights advocates have described the system as a form of “gender apartheid,” arguing that such measures deepen discrimination against women in Afghanistan.

The regulation has sparked strong global reactions, with rights groups urging immediate review or repeal of provisions they say threaten fundamental human rights and the protection of girls in Afghanistan.

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