A post from the BBC on Tuesday faced backlash for portraying Afghan fathers as being compelled to sell their daughters due to extreme poverty, suggesting the children bear the consequences of such dire situations.
Men in Afghanistan conveyed to the BBC their desperation, indicating that they’re resorting to marrying off their underage daughters. For instance, Saeed Ahmad shared that he felt he had no choice but to sell his five-year-old daughter, Shaikha, for about $3,200 to fund necessary medical treatment.
Ahmad explained, “I had to sell my daughter to someone in the family because I couldn’t afford her surgery.” Interestingly, while the BBC noted a clear connection between Ahmad and Shaikha, it also mentioned that they would be separated when she turned ten. Ahmad highlighted that his relatives planned to take her immediately but instead opted for a payment plan for the sale.
“Letting go of a child at such a young age is terrifying,” he admitted. “Yes, there’s a problem with child marriages. But given I couldn’t pay for her treatment, I thought at least she would survive.”
The BBC also pointed out a troubling preference among families, where daughters are more likely to be sold over sons. This stems from Taliban laws that restrict education and employment for women, viewing sons as future providers. Furthermore, selling a daughter often comes with a wedding gift from the groom’s family.
One father mentioned he managed just three days of work in the last six weeks, earning around $3 daily.
Another man described a chilling situation: “I received a call saying the kids hadn’t eaten in two days.” He confessed he felt hopeless and considered ending his life, believing it might provide some relief for his family.
A community note alongside the BBC’s article drew attention to the agency’s focus on the father’s emotional pain rather than the broader implications of selling daughters, framing it in a somewhat sympathetic light.
Former BBC writer Phil Craig criticized this portrayal, suggesting that it marked a significant decline for the organization. He argued that the agency’s narrative trivializes a grave issue, where daughters are treated as mere assets.
British journalist Andy Jones also weighed in, emphasizing the context of child brides in Afghanistan and the staggering rates of sexual violence, questioning the BBC’s failure to connect these dots.
Paola Diana, a child protection activist, expressed disapproval of the fathers’ choices, labeling them as morally wrong rather than just unfortunate. She underscored the need to combat the Taliban to improve the plight of women, calling for a deeper responsibility from society.
In response, the Taliban dismissed the notion that restricting women’s rights contributed to Afghanistan’s poverty, attributing the struggles to the consequences of prior foreign involvement. They remarked that an artificial economy was left behind post-invasion, burdening the nation with poverty and hardship.
The BBC’s article was later updated to clarify why selling daughters is common in Afghan culture, although no response from the agency was available at the time of publication.
