Sexual abuse of children in Taliban religious institutions.
Various sources in the country report a worrying spread of sexual abuse of male children by members of the Taliban group;
A phenomenon that has become common and accepted behavior among the group’s commanders in many provinces.
Field reports from provinces such as Faryab, Kandahar, Kunduz, Khost and Kabul indicate that numerous cases of sexual abuse of children have occurred in religious schools, seminaries and so-called educational centers.
The victims are mainly boys aged 8 to 14 whose families have remained silent or have left their homes for fear of reprisals.
According to witnesses, some Taliban members consider having a “beardless child” a sign of power and status. In some cases, the perpetrators of these acts hold high-ranking positions in the Taliban structure.
Child rights activists say that these crimes, in the shadow of the lack of a free media, the inaction of the international community and direct threats to families, are quickly becoming a deep social crisis that threatens the future of children and the moral fabric of Afghan society.
