Fazl Ahmad Manawi, Afghanistan’s former minister of justice, has expressed concern over the continued practice of bacha bazi and the recruitment of children into armed groups in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
Referring to the US Department of State’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, Manawi said the persistence of these practices constitutes a violation of children’s rights and poses a serious threat to the country’s social future.
In a post on his X account on Saturday, Manawi wrote that bacha bazi is not merely a moral issue but a flagrant violation of human dignity and children’s rights. He added that the practice also undermines trust within families and society.
Manawi stressed that effectively combating human trafficking requires more than issuing decrees. It demands political will, the enforcement of laws, support for victims, and the prosecution of perpetrators.
In its 2026 report, the US Department of State also stated that the unlawful recruitment of children, their use in combat-related activities, and the sexual exploitation of boys through the practice known as bacha bazi continue in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
According to the report, the Taliban have failed to take effective measures to end these practices and provide support to victims.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
