Afghan women traded as currency despite advancements in rights

Although women’s rights have advanced somewhat since the overthrow of the Taliban, Afghan girls continue to be traded and forced into marriage, The Associated Press reported Tuesday.

Girls are often used to pay off debts and settle disputes that may arise in the community. The tribal law, known as bad in the Dari language, allows families to bypass the $1,000 bride price to resolve various issues between feuding families.

One man, for example, sold his 16-year-old daughter because he was unable to repay a $165 loan to buy sheep. In exchange for marrying the sheep owner’s son, the girl’s father received nine sheep. “He gave me nine sheep,” Ahmad said as his daughter wiped tears from her eyes. “Because of nine sheep, I gave away my daughter.”

“It’s really sad to do this in this day and age, exchange women,” said Manizha Naderi, the director of the aid group Women for Afghan Women. “They're treated as commodities.”

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