Widows Forced Marriage

Written by: Samira Haleemzai

According to the information provided in the last five years by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Afghanistan, there are about 600 thousand widows in this country. Due to the prevailing custom in the community, some widows live in their father-in-laws’ houses for a lifetime but some widows are forced to remarry a person.

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

A woman says, “When my husband died, my brother-in-law wanted to marry me to his small brother but I rejected and told him that I want to live with my son but he beat me and I aborted my baby and then a forced marriage took place. My new husband was also against this marriage and he doesn’t love me and now I am faced with many problems.”

Mariam, a resident of Maidan-Wardak province says, “One of our relatives lost her husband and she had 4 daughters. Her father-in-law forced her to remarry her brother-in-law. After marriage, the new husband is oppressing the daughters of that woman and now he decided to marry a girl too.”

Why do some people force widows to remarry?

Fariba, a resident of Chaharasiab district, Kabul province says, “When a woman lost her husband, she doesn’t have anyone to take care of her and she could defend of her rights and some families are so poor that they could not take care of a widow or her children, therefore they prefer widows to remarry.”

Basira, a resident of Qarabagh district, Kabul province says, “Some family says that widow is their honor and they do not want others to remarry their widow, therefore, they prefer to remarry them to one of their relatives inside the home.”

How could people solve this issue?

Alhaj Bedo, a resident of Paktia province says, “My nephew died in a fight. He had a wife and two children. I asked his wife if she wants to remarry or lives together with us. She preferred to live with us and we provide all her needs.”

Marifia, a resident of Qarabagh district says, “When I lost my husband in a fight, my big son was 2 and half years old and I delivered a daughter after my husband’s death. My sister-in-law asked me to remarry but I rejected and they accepted. My father was helping me but when he died, I started to work out of my outside the house. Now my children have jobs and we have a happy life.”

What does the Islamic religion say about this kind of marriage?

Sayed Muhammad Amin Hashim, professor of Faculty of Sharia, Education University, Shahid professor Rabani, Kabul city says, “Allah prevents mankind in holy Quran to  do not engage a woman without her consent or willing.…”