Member-only story
They demand my daughter in exchange for a cow
Mahsa Elham* Authored it for Zan Times, translated to English by Rustam Seerat.
This narrative is told to a reporter for Zan Times via WhatsApp:
My name is Hussnia*. About ten months ago, my husband injured his back in a traffic accident in the Du Layna district of Ghor province. The lack of specialist doctors and his own negligence caused his spinal problems to worsen until he was paralyzed. To pay for his treatments, we sold all our belongings and asked for help from relatives and neighbours. One man entrusted us with his cow, but that help was conditional on us marrying our 13-year-old daughter to his brother. My husband reluctantly accepted this condition, sold the cow for 50,000 afghani, and went to Kabul for his back treatment. Soon after, I received the news of his passing.
My problems have multiplied since my husband’s death. I worry about how I can feed my two daughters and three young sons. With creditors pressuring me on one side and hunger on the other, we moved to the capital city of Firozkoh six months ago. Contrary to my initial hopes, no one came to our aid and we have endured the most challenging days and hungry nights. Our extreme poverty meant I had no choice but to send my 12-year-old son to work as a cowherd in a village.
