Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Taliban cracks down on 'costly' polygamy

Taliban cracks down on 'costly' polygamy

The leader of the Taliban in Afghanistan has issued a decree urging the group's leaders and commanders to forego taking multiple wives, which he said was inviting "criticism from our enemies".

Muslim men can be permitted by religion to have up to four wives at a time and polygamy is still legal in Afghanistan, Pakistan and some other predominantly Muslim nations.

But Taliban sources told the BBC the practice was creating increasing demand from commanders for funds to pay a "bride price" - a practice in force in many Pashtun tribes in Afghanistan and Pakistan by which money is given to a woman's family to secure her hand in marriage.

The decree comes at a sensitive political moment for the Taliban and for the country, as the militant group undertakes talks with the government over the country's future. Sources said the Taliban leadership was concerned over allegations of corruption against members attempting to raise funds to sustain large or multiple households.

Most of the Taliban's senior leaders have more than one wife, but the new decree does not apply retroactively to those who are already in multiple marriages.

What does the decree say?
The two-page decree, issued in the name of Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah, does not ban second, third, or fourth marriages, but warns that large amounts of money spent on marriage ceremonies can invite criticism from the Taliban's opponents.

"If all leadership and commanders avoid polygamy, they won't need to get involved in corrupt and illegal practices," the decree says.

The decree does provide for exceptions though, endorsing multiple marriages for men who either have no children, have no male child from a previous marriage, who are marrying a widow, or who have family wealth to afford multiple wives.

The decree says that in those circumstances, a man wishing to marry multiple wives should seek permission from his direct superior before arranging another marriage.

Taliban sources told the BBC the letter was being distributed to the rank and file of the movement in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

How widespread is polygamy?
Polygamy has long been widespread in the Pashtun societies of Afghanistan and Pakistan, where women have traditionally had little say in who or when they marry.

Absence of a child from a marriage - particularly a male child - is often cited as a reason for taking additional wives in rural, patriarchal Pashtun societies. Another is domestic tension, for which a wife is usually held responsible.

A widowed woman is often given in marriage to the brother of her deceased husband - a move seen as protecting the honour of the widow and the family, even though the brother may already be married. And for those with greater wealth, polygamy can be seen as a status symbol.

Such marriages are made possible by the custom of "walwar" - or bride price - which the family of the bride receives in return for giving her hand in marriage to her husband.

Economic pressures and changing social attitudes in recent decades have begun to discourage polygamy, but it is being kept alive in the modern world by "male lust", said Rita Anwari, an Afghan activist based in Australia.

Islam allowed men to take multiple wives "under certain conditions", Ms Anwari said, "such as if the previous wife is sick or can't bear children, and there are certain balancing caveats".

"Unfortunately, today's men with power have forgotten all that in their pursuit of lust," she added, accusing them of using "small excuses" to take new wives.

"It is completely wrong to have a few wives when you can't look after them equally - financially, physically, and mentally," she said.

Most of the Taliban's senior leaders have taken multiple wives. The movement's founder, the late Mullah Mohammad Omar, and his successor, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, both had three wives. The current Taliban chief, Mullah Hibatulah, has two.

The Taliban's most senior official in Doha, Mulah Abdul Ghani Baradar, has three wives - the last of whom he reportedly married while in Pakistani custody.

Nearly all of the Doha-based leaders of the movement have multiple wives, including those recently released from US custody at Guantanamo Bay. Some of the latter have taken additional wives after their release, mostly in return for hefty amounts of bride money paid to their new in-laws.

When the BBC contacted Taliban sources to ask which Taliban leaders had multiple wives, one source replied simply: "Which one hasn't?"

Why the effort now to control polygamy?
For many years, government officials in Afghanistan have pointed out that while Taliban leaders often lead luxurious lifestyles, foot soldiers are forced to live hand-to-mouth.

"The good news is that the ranking Taliban fighters are sick of fighting while [Taliban leaders] are getting their fourth and fifth wife and are enjoying themselves," said Afghan President Ashraf Ghani during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos last year.

There have been reports that Taliban commanders in Afghanistan have taken wives by using force - unwanted negative press for the group at a sensitive political time as it takes part in talks with the government.

And the financial strain of bride prices has reportedly concerned Taliban leaders. Reports suggest that commanders and fighters have paid prices ranging from 2m to 8m Afghanis ($26,000 to more than $100,000), either paid from the movement's funds or raised through questionable means.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Hungary Ranked Among the World’s Safest Travel Destinations for 2025
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Man Convicted of Fraud After Booking Over 120 Free Flights Posing as Flight Attendant
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Beata Thunberg Rebrands as Beata Ernman Amidst Sister's Activism Controversy
Hungarian Parliament Approves Citizenship Suspension Law
Prime Minister Orbán Criticizes EU's Ukraine Accession Plans
Hungarian Delicacies Introduced to Japanese Market
Hungary's Industrial Output Rises Amid Battery Sector Slump
President Sulyok Celebrates 15 Years of Hungarian Unity Efforts
Hungary's Szeleczki Shines at World Judo Championships
Visegrád Construction Trends Diverge as Hungary Lags
Hungary Hosts National Quantum Technology Workshop
Hungarian Animation Featured at Annecy Festival
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
UK and EU Reach New Economic Agreement
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
UK and EU Reach Agreement on Gibraltar's Schengen Integration
Israeli Finance Minister Imposes Banking Penalties on Palestinians
U.S. Inflation Rises to 2.4% in May Amid Trade Tensions
Trump's Policies Prompt Decline in Chinese Student Enrollment in U.S.
Global Oceans Near Record Temperatures as CO₂ Levels Climb
Trump Announces U.S.-China Trade Deal Covering Rare Earths
Smuggled U.S. Fuel Funds Mexican Cartels Amid Crackdown
Austrian School Shooting Leaves Nine Dead in Graz
Bezos's Lavish Venice Wedding Sparks Local Protests
Europe Prepares for Historic Lunar Rover Landing
Italian Parents Seek Therapy Amid Lengthy School Holidays
British Fishing Vessel Seized by France Fined €30,000
Dutch Government Collapses Amid Migration Policy Dispute
UK Commits to 3.5% GDP Defence Spending Under NATO Pressure
Germany Moves to Expedite Migrant Deportations
US Urges UK to Raise Defence Spending to 5% of GDP
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Low Turnout Jeopardizes Italy's Citizenship Reform Referendum
Transatlantic Interest Rate Divergence Widens as Trump Pressures Powell
EU Lawmaker Calls for Broader Exemptions in Supply Chain Legislation
France's Defense Spending Plans Threatened by High National Debt
European Small-Cap Stocks Outperform U.S. Rivals Amid Growth Revival
Switzerland Proposes $26 Billion Capital Increase for UBS
×