The plight of Afghanistan's opium brides

 

From Deutsche Welles

While opium trade might be lucrative for some of those involved, many find themselves at the losing end. Daughters of farmers who find themselves desperate and indebted are used as little more than currency. 

To provide for their families, many Afghan farmers turn to the relatively lucrative practise of poppy cultivation.

Initial capital costs for items such as seeds, can be high. Many are forced to take loans from unscrupulous lenders, the drug lords and the Taliban among them.
But growing the poppy plant is no definite route to success. There are risks. While the government's eradication program may not be far-reaching, those farmers that do feel the brunt are left with bare earth and no way to settle their debts.

Some resort to bartering their daughters in marriage to settle the loans. These daughters are known as the "loan brides" or even "opium brides."

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Man Sells Six-Year-Old Daughter As Bride To Settle A Debt

A man in Afghanistan says he was forced to sell his six-year-old daughter to settle an old debt. The child, Naghma, was sold to a family member as a child bride. Her fiance is 16 years old.

Naghma’s Father, Taj Mohammad, states that the sale of his daughter was a necessity. Mohammad had borrowed money from a distant relative. He stresses that he needed the money to feed, house and protect his family.

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Kidnapped 'Virgin-Brides' Believed To Be Cure For HIV

The CNN Freedom Project tells the story of young women being kidnapped as child brides by those who believe that having sex with a young girl can cure their HIV. In many African villages, girls as young as 12 years old are kidnapped and forced to marry older men.

They speak of the term “Ukuthwala,” which translates to “pick up,” which justifies the abduction of young women. In some cases, the kidnappings occur with parental consent.

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Saudi child-bride hides on wedding night to avoid 90-year-old "husband"

Pedophile slave-owners seem to have no age limit:

"A 90-year-old Saudi Arabian is suing his 15-year-old child-bride's family because she hid herself in the bedroom on their wedding night. The terrified teen locked the door from the inside so that her new husband could not enter on their first night as a married couple. Two days later she fled back to her parents’ home, Daily Mail reported. The elderly man now wants his money back as he claims he paid the parents 10,767 pounds (about $17,500) for the teenager for the marriage."

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