Taliban legalizes child marriage

The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has enacted a new family law regulation that formally recognizes child marriage and interprets a girl's silence as consent.

The decree, titled 'Principles of Separation Between Spouses,' has drawn sharp condemnation from international human rights organizations.

The law grants fathers and grandfathers absolute authority over marital decisions for minors once they reach puberty.

Critics argue the regulation further erodes the basic rights of women and girls in the country, institutionalizing systemic abuse.