Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, chief of the Afghan Taliban, has instructed his top officials to “avoid second, third, and fourth marriage if there is no need.” Constant requests from Taliban officials for extra money to pay for multiple wives reportedly prompted the order.
Voice of America News (VOA) obtained Akhundzada’s order, written in the Pashtun language, from two Taliban officials. They said they were instructed to share the order with their subordinates.
“Families of several officials of the Islamic Emirate do not have a lot of money. Therefore, more marriages could affect their prestige, trustworthiness, and personality,” the Taliban chief instructed his subordinates.
One of VOA’s sources said Akhundzada grew weary of the “many complaints” he received from Taliban officials who needed financial assistance to pay the dowry for multiple wives. Among the Pashtun tribes of Afghanistan, it is customary for the groom to pay a “bride price” to the bride’s
