Women in Afghanistan Are Prisoners In Their Own Homes. This is the Story of Marjan, Married at 12 to a Taliban Fighter

“The only thing left for Afghan women to do is to cry behind the closed doors that bar their access to schools, universities, offices or even entertainment venues.” So writes Zala, translated by Asad Nariman. But one woman—who Zala calls Marjan—is bravely prepared to open the door and show us life inside. Marjan was married to a Taliban fighter at the age of 12. Her story was first recorded orally, witnessed and relayed by Zala. Marjan’s is a terrible tale of abuse, not just by her husband but by her husband’s family, who, after the marriage, now own her. A rare insight from the perspective of the normally silenced.

Besides Adi, my five brothers-in-law and their families also lived in that house. None of the men were home, though, because they were all members of the Taliban and had been given different positions in different provinces after the occupation of Afghanistan. All the women and children in the family were led by Adi and her cane. Her word was law and anyone who disobeyed it was punished. If the women of the house were excessive in their use of food, if they failed to care for the animals properly, or if they were slightly late in completing their daily chores, Adi would reprimand them. Not a day went by without several members feeling the sting of her cane against their bones.

As time passed, I gradually learned their language. My mother-in-law’s cane also taught me how to do the housework and look after the animals. The only thing I never learned was to cover my face. This was in direct defiance of my mother-in-law. Every time she saw my bare face she beat me with her cane and threatened that, as long as she lived, she would not allow me to reveal my face. The rest of the women and children in the family lived under her iron rule. To the extent that they knew compassion, they were kind to me, helping me with household chores and showing sympathy whenever I cried and missed my home and family.