The Resurgence of Bacha Bazi in Afghanistan

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A deeply troubling practice called “bacha bazi” is resurfacing in Afghanistan. It involves young boys, often minors, being forced to dance for wealthy Afghan men. These men then sexually abuse the children. The boys, who come from poor families, are made up and sent to perform at parties. Sometimes their own families sell them.

Reuters news agency spoke to a boy there who said, “I love my master. I like to dance, act like a woman, and play with them. When I grow up, I will become a master and have my own boys.” This shows how children are being groomed for exploitation. This practice causes deep mental and physical harm to children, such as internal bleeding, broken bones, and sometimes death. As they grow older, these children become ostracized from society and turn to drugs or become abusers themselves.

Although homosexuality is punishable by death in Afghanistan, “bacha bazi” continues. According to a 2024 European Union report, Afghan security forces and local police recruit boys for this purpose in every province. Many Afghans, especially within religious groups, consider this culturally acceptable. A law was passed in 2018 to stop it, but it continues under the current Taliban regime. The Taliban have taken advantage of this to use children for espionage and attacks.

According to a Times of India report, US soldiers in Afghanistan witnessed this but were unable to do anything. A soldier’s father said that his son would hear children screaming at night but was told to ignore it, saying it was “their culture.” The Taliban’s strict rules and restrictions on women have worsened the situation. With the departure of the international community, these innocent children are being exploited without any protection. This is evidence of the failure to eradicate a deeply rooted practice in a part of Afghan society.