Meral Hussein, a Muslim member of the British Parliament, has said that the Taliban’s new regulation on separation between husband and wife is, in practice, a “child rape law.” Critics believe the regulation effectively legalizes child marriage in Afghanistan.
Meral Hussein, a Muslim and Turkish-origin member of the British Parliament, reacted on Saturday, May 23, in a short post on her X account to the Taliban’s newly introduced rules regarding divorce and separation between couples.
The Taliban describe the regulation as religious and Islamic. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, dismissed human rights objections to the document on May 20, saying such criticism is nothing new and holds no importance for the Taliban administration.
The Taliban Ministry of Justice announced on May 14 that the “Regulation on the Separation of Spouses” had been published in the official gazette after being approved by Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban leader.
The regulation consists of 31 articles and addresses issues such as conditions for annulment of marriage, child marriage, and custody provisions.
The Taliban’s new regulation has sparked widespread reactions from international organizations and human rights activists. United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan also expressed concern over the approval of the regulation, stating that the document institutionalizes child marriage in Afghanistan.
Previously, around 100 human rights organizations said in a joint statement that the “Regulation on the Separation of Spouses” ignores the fundamental rights of half of Afghanistan’s society. These organizations believe the document legitimizes child marriage and have called for its “complete, immediate, and unconditional repeal.”
However, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, disregarded these reactions and said: “These objections are in clear contradiction with Islamic rulings and therefore should not be taken into consideration.”
Writer:Salima Aryaei
