The recent decree issued by Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers is making it almost impossible for women and girls to escape forced, unwanted, or abusive marriages.

While the decree outlines 12 circumstances under which a marriage can be dissolved, Afghani women and girls say the rules leave ultimate power in the hands of men, judges, and family members- trapping women and girls in exploitation and modern slavery with no way out.

Decree tightens control over women’s lives

Before the Taliban returned to power, women seeking divorce from abusive, violent, or absent husbands already faced significant legal obstacles. However, limited avenues for separation still existed. Now those options are fast disappearing.

Fatima, a young woman from northern Afghanistan, was forced into an arranged marriage in 2024. Her family says they only discovered on her wedding day that her husband had severe intellectual and physical disabilities and required constant care. Overwhelmed by the situation, Fatima repeatedly begged her parents to help her leave.

In late 2025, her family took her case to court. However, after a brief hearing, the judge ordered her to return to her husband’s family. Two Taliban soldiers pointed their weapons at Fatima’s parents. Her in-laws then seized her and dragged her toward their car by force.

Her father shared:

My daughter was screaming and crying that she did not want to go with them, but nobody listened.

Tragically Fatima was forced to remain in the marriage and face continuing abuse.

Fatima’s relatives who were able to briefly meet with her since the court case said her in laws beat her regularly and threatened to have her parents arrested if they tried to file for divorce again.

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