Widespread 'Forced Marriages' Among Women Fleeing Afghanistan... "Showing Desperation"

"New Government, Include Women" Protest Also

Afghans boarding a U.S. Air Force transport plane at Kabul Airport. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Afghan women are reportedly forced to marry men or pretend to be married to men included in rescue operations in order to escape.

According to CNN, some Afghan women and girls sheltered in evacuation centers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are paying thousands of dollars to men included in rescue operations to marry them or are making them pretend to be their husbands in order to escape Afghanistan.

On the 2nd (local time), a U.S. official responsible for Afghan refugee evacuation recently informed the U.S. State Department of this news.

CNN stated, "This fact reveals the desperation of Afghans and shows the fear that the Taliban's rule instills in women and girls."

Photo by Tollo News Twitter capture

Meanwhile, according to major foreign media, on the previous day (the 3rd), more than 50 women took to the streets in Herat City, Afghanistan, holding banners and placards to protest.

They marched holding placards with the message, "No government can be stable without the support of women." One participant shouted slogans such as "Protect women's rights. Include women in the new government."

Additionally, the protesters demanded "the right to education, the right to work, and the right to safety for women." After the street march, they confronted Taliban members at the Herat governor's office.

Sabira Taheri, the protest organizer, said, "I was scared but encouraged women to stand in the front row," adding, "The Taliban seemed surprised by the women protesting in the streets and appeared unsure how to react."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.