BACHA BAZI : Why Afghan Boys Need A Better Place To Live

 

Imagine a 10-year-old boy dancing for hours in a girl’s costume (sometimes even nude) and wearing makeup among a group of men at late-night gatherings. This disturbing scenario culminates in a constant sexual relationship involving 10 to 15 men and the boy. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident—it’s the reality faced by thousands of young boys aged 9 to 16 in Afghanistan. They are exploited for sexual purposes by powerful men, perpetuating the shameful practice known as ‘Bacha Bazi,’ which has plagued Afghanistan for centuries.

Yes, Bacha Bazi is an extremely troubling and harmful practice that exploits many vulnerable children in Afghanistan on a daily basis. These underage boys are forced to dress like females and dance in front of men, who are often under the influence of drugs—opium and hash. Subsequently, the boys are raped and treated as slaves.

Despite homosexual relations being considered 'Haram' in Islam, this practice persists in Afghanistan. Young boys are openly kept as sex slaves, dancing provocatively while wearing fake breasts. They serve as mistresses to wealthy individuals until they reach the age of 20.

The constant physical abuse leads to severe pain and bleeding in the private parts of these children, putting them at risk of serious diseases. Children are forcibly subjected to this horrific practice, held captive, and even face death if they attempt to escape.

These pre-adolescent boys, also known as Bacha Barish or Beardless boys, come from poor families and work as "entertainers" for influential Afghans. The subject of children going missing and being forced into "Bacha Bazi" has recently resurfaced in Afghanistan. Despite its extensive history, this practice continues to be a source of worry. This trade is dominated by gangs, some of which have ties to the Taliban.

Not only in Afghanistan but also in different parts of Pakistan, this practice of Bacha Bazi is very common. In other words, it is known as Londa Bazi (where ‘Londa’ refers to a young and beautiful boy). In Khairpur (Sindh), it’s common to see a man sitting with his Bacha (boy) in roadside hotels. People avoid even glancing at them. Although it is not legal in Pakistan, who cares about the law in this country?.

Surprisingly, officers in the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) can be seen walking around with these young boys, and yet no one dares to address this disturbing situation.In a few incidents, there have been murders related to those attempting to engage in relationships with their Bacha.

The International Court of Justice continuously raises this issue before the Afghan government, yet it persists in the name of custom. In fact, the U.S. military also struggled to combat this practice during deployment in Afghanistan due to its prevalence and acceptance in local communities.

Afghanistan’s national laws prohibit Bacha Bazi, and perpetrators can face up to life imprisonment depending on the severity of the offense. However, Bacha Bazi cases are often underreported due to social patterns and fear of revenge.

Until today, no official statistics exist regarding the exact number of Bacha Bazi victims. However, an earlier study suggested that as many as 60% of men in Pashtun tribal areas of southern Afghanistan engage in this exploitative practice. Rampant throughout all levels of Afghan society, an estimated one in ten Afghan boys falls victim to this cultural blight. The secretive nature of Bacha Bazi, combined with cultural taboos and political instability, makes it challenging to quantify accurately. Every day, the police receive numerous complaints about missing boys, but very few of them ever return home. Basically, the issue of “Bacha Bazi” is a grave violation of human rights.

What is Bacha Bazi?,

Bacha Bazi (also known as “Boy play” and “Chai Boy” in Afghan language) is a practice where men, sometimes called bacha baz, buy and keep adolescent boys, often referred to as 'Dancing Boys', for entertainment and sexual purposes. This custom has historical roots in Afghanistan and historical Turkestan. Unfortunately, it frequently involves sexual slavery and child prostitution by older men who exploit young adolescent males.

The first type of Bacha Bazi is a horrifying form of sexual abuse. Young boys are taken from their families and used as sex slaves. Disturbingly, during several US raids, Afghan boys have been found chained up and suffering from sexual injuries.

In Afghan society, there’s an extreme manifestation of this practice, captured in the popular saying: “Women are for childbearing, boys are for pleasure.” Despite its disturbing nature, it’s often referred to as a “cultural” practice rather than outright pedophilia.

Bacha Bazi is deeply embedded in Pashtun and southern Afghanistan culture, making it particularly challenging to address. In most cases, it also leads to ethnic tensions between Pashtuns and non-Pashtuns. As a result, the government lacks the capacity to enforce the criminalization of this practice, and very few perpetrators have been prosecuted. Despite being outlawed and condemned by leaders at certain points in Afghanistan’s history, it has managed to remain relevant to this day. Some wealthy individuals maintain several young boys as companions. Children who become victims of ‘Bacha Bazi’ often come from underprivileged homes, and their parents frequently struggle to exert pressure on the authorities when their children go missing. Disturbing instances include finding young boys or even women lying naked in the middle of the street and other dire situations.

The Taliban’s deep involvement makes this practice more abhorrent,

It is said that after coming to power in the 1990s, the Taliban completely banned and publicly punished bacha bazi. They prohibited the practice during their rule, considering it haram (illegal) under Shari’a law. During the Taliban’s regime, bacha bazi carried the death penalty under their law. The Taliban outlawed it, along with sodomy, dancing, and music.

However, after the Taliban regime collapsed in 2001, former Islamist commanders from the anti-Soviet insurgency era regained power. Bacha bazi resurfaced in certain regions of Afghanistan, taking a darker turn. Boys were kidnapped, trafficked, and subjected to sexual abuse without any cultural nuances or recognition of the historical context.

If we talk about the present time, there is a law in Afghanistan to stop all this, and the Taliban also talks about pelting stones at these people at crossroads. However, the truth is different. After coming back to power in 2021, the Taliban itself is promoting this shameful act.

Today, the Taliban commanders use them as objects to fulfill the sexual desires of their chieftains. Later, these boys themselves become 'Bacha Baz' and repeat the same indecent cycle. This is the reason why this evil practice has been prevalent in Afghanistan for a long time.

The matter does not end here. These boys join the Taliban to strengthen the organization. You can see them openly wearing jackets with ‘bacha bazi’ written on them on the streets of Afghanistan.

🚨 This footage of young boys being forced to dance and perform in Afghanistan for a controversial tradition called ‘Bacha Bazi’ after the dance, the boys are given to men for sexual abuse.

This practice has turned into a centuries-long tradition and involves sexual abuse and… pic.twitter.com/DHi8hwNFZ5

— ۩ᏰᎧጀᏋᏒ۩ (@Snyderboxer) May 26, 2024

Today, this practice has turned into a centuries-old tradition, despite all legal restrictions and the so-called deep punishment by the terrorist group Taliban (who are actually deeply complicit in this practice and continuously use child sex slaves to mount crippling insider attacks on police in southern Afghanistan, exploiting the pervasive practice of ‘bacha bazi’—Paedophilic boy play—to infiltrate security ranks). This has become an opportunity for rich or powerful people in today’s Afghanistan, especially those involved in factions that were part of the former Northern Alliance and ANSF (US allies in the region), to sexually exploit young boys under the pretext of engagement. This deviant subculture of Afghan pedophilia currently represents one of the most appalling violations of human rights in the world.

Why did the US forces fail to address this issue?,

Facts show that US soldiers were instructed to ignore the sexual abuse of boys by Afghan allies, even if it happened on military bases. Bacha Bazi is a way of protecting oneself from child abuse. The US military’s efforts to keep away were reportedly an attempt to maintain good relations with Afghan militia groups deployed to fight the Taliban. Balancing military alliances and addressing human rights abuses was a significant challenge. However, it also increased the number of US troops and disturbed relations between victims’ parents.

Here are some instances that depict the helpless condition of US soldiers:

According to a report titled ‘U.S. Soldiers Told to Disregard Afghan Sexual Abuse of Boys’ published in TIME Magazine, American soldiers stationed in Afghanistan were instructed to look the other way if they witnessed children being abused physically or sexually. Those who did intervene were reprimanded, demoted, or even kicked out of the military. In interviews, some soldiers mentioned that they could hear boys crying and screaming but were explicitly told not to get involved, as it was perceived as a cultural issue. However, many citizens expressed complaints about the men in charge of units, troops, or local police due to their involvement in the abuse. This policy was implemented to maintain good standing with the U.S.-trained Afghan police and militia.

The allegations surrounding bacha bazi first surfaced in The New York Times, which cited interviews and court records. Soldiers were ordered not to intervene with local Afghan commanders or American-trained militias to maintain good relations. In some cases, the U.S. ended up arming suspected pedophiles. However, this policy has recently come under scrutiny because it alienated the parents of boys who were victims.

On the other hand, legal constraints also tied the hands of the US military. Even today, under the Leahy Act (U.S. human rights laws), the Department of Defense and the Department of State are not allowed to conduct any investigation into foreign security force units. These units are prohibited from providing assistance if there is evidence of human rights violations, including child abuse. However, this law has proven difficult to enforce effectively in a complex conflict zone such as Afghanistan.

This is the reason why, despite all legal constraints and efforts to distance itself from this practice, the U.S. military faced challenges due to its prevalence and cultural acceptance in Afghanistan.

Now, Bacha bazi has become an under-reported human rights problem that is causing huge and increasing suffering for the most vulnerable children in Afghanistan. The lack of action by the US and Afghan governments constitutes a dark stain on their record as they attempt to create a freer and safer society after the war. While the rhetoric of both governments signifies increased engagement with the problem, swift action must now follow to protect the young boys of Afghanistan from further abuse.

Even inside the Afghani police department, there are elements who engage in ‘Bacha Bazi,’ resulting in the suppression of complaints. Organizations and police authorities concerned with children’s safety have repeatedly urged an end to this practice and harsh penalties, but the sin persists throughout Afghanistan.

Indeed, the multifaceted gendered dynamics in Afghan society play a role in supporting the Taliban in certain regions, especially when the Afghan government relies on U.S. funding for stability. While they initially banned it, accusations of their own involvement highlight the challenges in addressing this deeply entrenched issue in Afghanistan. The practice remains a grave concern for human rights and stability in the region.

What does international law say on Bacha Bazi?,

The issue of Bacha Bazi has always garnered international attention due to its grave implications. As the practice violates the boys’ rights to human dignity, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) obligates states to protect children from all forms of abuse and neglect, including sexual exploitation. The U.S. Department of Defense and State also consider child sexual assault a “gross violation of human rights.

A study published in the European Journal of Law and Political Science analyzes Bacha Bazi through the lens of international law. It explores the potential classification of Bacha Bazi as a crime against humanity. The study highlights the physical, psychological, and sexual harm inflicted on underage boys and emphasizes the Taliban’s involvement in perpetuating this practice.

The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) framework is suggested as a means to address the issue. This framework emphasizes collective action and cooperation between Afghanistan and the international community to combat Bacha Bazi and protect children’s rights. Additionally, Bacha Bazi is prohibited by international law based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child—all of which Afghanistan has ratified.

Furthermore, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) also prohibits Bacha Bazi based on provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and other human rights conventions. Critical evaluation of Afghanistan’s domestic legal framework, including relevant statutes and recent legislative amendments, is essential in addressing Bacha Bazi. 

All we can conclude is that the Afghan criminal justice system and the Taliban have always been deeply involved in this sick practice. As a result, many minor boys are sacrificed in the name of social tradition. Nevertheless, by aligning domestic laws with international standards, Afghanistan can better combat this harmful practice.