Not Allowing Married Women to Their Fathers’ houses

Written by: Sameera Haleemzai

A girl remembers her parents, brothers, sisters and other relatives after her marriage and she goes for their visit after marriage. Some families in Afghanistan prevent their sons’ wives from going to their parents’ houses and this issue might cause some problems to both families.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some people about this issue.

A woman, a resident of Maidan-Wardak province says: “my father-in-law’s family is always preventing me from going to father’s house even they do not allow me to go there for 5 years. Once my father came and asked me to participate in brother’s wedding but husband family did not allow me. Them my brothers also came and they fight with each other. They shot my father and my brother got wound by a knife.”

A resident of Qarabagh district says: “my husband does not allow to go to my father’s house. Some 4 or 5 months later I go to visit my parents and other members of my father’s family. when my father or brother comes to visit me, my husband does not respect them.”

A psychiatrist, Ms. Tamana Rohani says: “these women might face psychologic problems such as depression; losing self-confidence, prefer to live alone; hate their families and this issue could badly affect their children.”

How do people could solve this issue?

Ismail, a resident of Zabul province says: “I married and have told my wife that she could go anytime to her father’s house because Islam also allows women to visit their parents.”

Diljan, a resident of Paghman district, Kabul province says: “my two daughters are married and they regularly come to visit us. when my son’s wife wants to go to her father’s house, she asks me and I never prevent her from going.”

What does Islamic religion say about this issue?

Muhammad Yaseen Fazil, professor of Sharia, Education University of Ustad Rabbani Kabul city, says: “visit father’s house after marriage is the right of the woman. Allah says that men and women, especially men are obliged to have good behavior with their wives. A married woman could go to her father’s house for visiting her parents and her father-in-law; mother-in-law and other members of her husband’s house could not prevent her from this opportunity.” Muhammad Yaseen Fazil, professor of Sharia, Education University of Ustad Rabbani, Kabul city says: “visit father’s house after marriage is the right of the woman. Allah says that men and women, especially men are obliged to have good behavior with their wives. A married woman could go to her father’s house for visiting her parents and her father-in-law; mother-in-law and other members of her husband’s house could not prevent her from this opportunity.”