A teenage girl has fled a forced marriage arranged by her family to a Taliban-controlled country where women are banned from education and work. The 17-year-old, whose identity is protected, escaped her home in the UK just hours before she was due to be flown to the country, which authorities believe to be Afghanistan. The case, heard in the Family Division of the High Court, reveals the harrowing lengths some families go to enforce cultural practices that violate British law.
The girl, a British citizen, was taken into care by social services after she contacted a helpline. The judge granted a forced marriage protection order, prohibiting her parents from removing her from the jurisdiction. This incident comes amid escalating Taliban restrictions on women's rights, including the closure of universities and secondary schools for girls.
Statistics from the Forced Marriage Unit show 95 cases involving victims under 18 in 2022, with the Taliban-controlled country linked to several. The girl now lives in a foster placement and is continuing her education, a right she says was almost stolen from her. The parents have not been named to protect the girl's identity.
The case highlights the intersection of child protection, gender equality, and the ongoing crisis in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
