The Taliban issued a decree that bans forced marriages in Afghanistan on Friday, saying women should not be considered “property” and must consent to marriage, reports Al Jazeera.
It was annouced by Taliban Chief Hibatullah Akhunzada. The international community, which has frozen billions of dollars in funds for Afghanistan, has made women’s and human rights a key element of any future engagement with Afghanistan.
The decree said, “Both women and men should be equal. No one can force women to marry by coercion or pressure.”
However, it didn’t mention a minimum age for marriage, which previously was set at 16-years-old.
The Taliban also allowed a window to re-marry after 17 weeks of her husband’s death. Moreover, the Taliban leadership has ordered Afghan courts to treat women fairly, especially widows seeking inheritance as next of kin.
The development was hailed on social media by some social media users while most of them shared their concerns.
During the Taliban’s previous rule from 1996 to 2001, it banned women from leaving the house without a male relative, full face and head covering and girls were made compulsory and restricted from getting education.
However, now they claim that they have changed but many women, advocates and officials remain skeptical.
