Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, said in response to criticism regarding the “Principles of Spousal Separation” that the regulation does not mean permitting the marriage of underage girls, but was instead prepared to help courts and judges resolve complicated family cases.
Mujahid said the regulation was drafted by religious scholars based on Islamic Sharia and Hanafi jurisprudence so that judges could make clear and swift decisions in longstanding cases related to marriage, inheritance, childbirth, and marriages involving minors.
According to him, in Hanafi jurisprudence, fathers and grandfathers have guardianship rights, but this authority is subject to specific conditions and must not involve ظلم, addiction, or hostile behavior toward the girl.
The Taliban spokesperson emphasized that, under a decree by Hibatullah Akhundzada, marriage without a girl’s consent is prohibited, and a girl’s permission is considered necessary for marriage. He added that, based on this principle, a girl must have reached an age and level of maturity that allows her to make decisions.
Mujahid also claimed that Taliban courts had stopped numerous cases of forced marriages, underage marriages, and the giving away of girls to settle disputes over the past year.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
