A Taliban Official in Badakhshan Forcibly Married a 17-Year-Old Girl

This incident took place about three months ago, when Qari Mahrabuddin Bilal was the Taliban's Director of Agriculture in Baghlan.

According to sources, he also paid her father 1.5 million Afghanis to marry her.

Qari Mahrabuddin Bilal, also known as "Hajji Bilal", had previously tried to marry a young woman from Aliabad district in Kunduz, but was met with strong opposition from the girl.

In the end, he paid money to the father of another 17-year-old girl in Aliabad district and married her.

Qari Mahrabuddin was appointed as the Taliban's Director of Agriculture in Badakhshan about a week ago.

This comes as the Taliban leader has ordered his commanders and officials not to take more than one wife, following multiple reports of Taliban officials having multiple wives.

Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban leader, issued the order during his trip to Kabul last Wednesday night.