PAN, December 26, 2013

By Tamkin

A father sold his minor daughter to a 35 years old man in return for some animals and food items, officials said Thursday.

The sale of Ghancha Gul, 7, in northern Jawzjan province drew denunciation from human rights campaigners, attorneys and law-enforcement officials.

Officials of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) condemned the act as an outrage and blamed provincial authorities for failing to prevent it.

Ewaz Ali Sabiri, an AIHRC official, said Ghuncha Gul was sold to Asadullah -- a drug addict -- by her father in return for 200 kilograms of wheat, 70 kg of rice, two goats, a donkey and some other goods.

Sabiri said Asadullah later secretly arranged tied the knot with the girl. He has been arrested but the Imam who solemnised the marriage is yet to be detained.

Salamat Azami, another AIHRC official, promised to do all he could to resolve the issue if the provincial government failed to deal with it.

Meanwhile, the provincial attorney office said the issue had been addressed to a large extent and they would update the rights watchdog on the progress made.