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these people are so cut off from reality. all they know is what they have heard from what other ignorant and uneducated people(whom they believe are leaders) tell them. they are illiterate and do not know the difference between the laws of the Quran and the laws of power hungry men. the things they have done to these men and women is so wrong. they not only give men the ability to do as they please, but they give them a green light by saying that it's god's law they are upholding. what nonsense. the women must stand up for themselves even if it's dangerous. they are already in a horrible cycle, don't keep repeating it. yes, it may be hard to do. but is it worth the pain of life in a prison with no physical bars, or freedom through truth and strength in what is truly right?

Some of the opinions here have valid points. This has occurred in the majority of human societies and still occurs in the West. The difference between the West and this culture is the attempt and success of some at showing the moral depravity of such a practice. It is now widely frowned upon in our society but this does not seem to be the case in a lot of societies such as the example. I do not believe the finger pointing is an attempt to elevate ourselves but rather a natural (though not good) human response to expressing disappointment or disgust. And furthermore, I do not believe that the economical suggestions made here would create or even significantly encourage a change in morals. Though I hate to admit it, I do not see a better option then the ugly head of capitalism and I do not feel that the reoccurring lack of morals is a result of capitalism.

i understand what you mean, but dont you think the rest of the world are those cut off from reality? these people are thrown into it with no choice. theyre the ones experiencing the harshness of reality first-hand... id say western culture is most often the sheltered.

And this lot are the most blissful ignoramuses in the world.
They are 400 years behind the rest of humanity so let us just leave them there.

No, you are mistaken... raping of young girls and women was never necessary. Females as property was never necessary. Forcing females to reproduce against their will or better judgment was never necessary. That is a myth that men have told us about historical cultures. It is only the existential fear and powerlessness that men feel that drives these myths and misunderstandings of biological sex and evolution. Read some S. J. Gould to start.

This is sickening, the men are disgusting. There is no other way to describe them I don't care how isolated they are or how normal it seems to them, they just want sex with young girls and their ridiculous society sanctions it.

Though these images are painful, this is a well done, insightful piece. Thank you for bringing attention to this issue.
I would be interested in a follow-up piece focusing on efforts to support these girls and women, and what strategies might be best for helping them.

"you think you know how everyone else should live"
no, this makes sense. the only people who should be told how to live are those ungrateful 15 year old girls who try to visit their moms. i see what youre trying to say even if logic defies you.

Allow me to digress from this particular story to comment on the commenters first. I am from the "West" I enjoy my air-conditioned home while living la vida latte. Call me ignorant if you must, though I would call your knowledge of 'Western Philosophy' moot at at best. I do not know (or want to know) how everyone should live.

To the commentor, "boohoo bleading hearts"; you have a twistedly misguided sense of reality and seem fundamentally uneducated. Are you under the impression that the whole world "going to hell" is like a big (RESET) button that returns a societal progrssion back to a cro-magnun type state? Did you even think before you wrote?

I have no sensativity for this culture, the women should have symetric authority, and the men need to learn how to shave, that Pashtun look is soo 1700s! And talking about gay? the Ayatollah(s) are more flaming than a burning afghan flag in the center of the Castro district.

Do these woman beating pedophiles actually think that h??r?yah awaits them at the end of their pathetic execuses for a life? (@Flipping The Bird)
Well hacka lacka hadith yourselves right in the butt.

It's nice to see they know their place.

I'm all for protecting ones culture but eventually you have to stop throwing virgins into the volcano.

and p.s. Irin Spencer:

That smacks of the white man saying that education would be an unhealthy shock for slaves' constitutions. Just because they are accostomed to one way of life doesn't mean that they can't comprehend another, or evaluate the pros and cons of another, just as you and I are doing. Education aside, you have to give people a chance to think and choose for themselves.

it is obviously the desperate economic condition that is causing the supply and demand in the "Farmer's Daughters Market" Yes if the girl had money she would have said fuck you and left on an airplane fool. and if her father wasn't so broke he probably wouldn't have bet his daughter on a game of cards or dice or whatever. In the Monetary System (Capitalism, Socialism, Communism, Fascism, Monarchy, Oligarchy) We are all chiseling off of each other and you can't expect decency in that sort of thing. Say if you've got a doctor, he tells you, "oh we need to take that kidney out, that kidney's gotta come out," Now is you're kidney fucked up? or is you're doctor trying to pay off his yacht? Morality comes second in a monetary system that's all there is to it. the foremost priority of any modern established institution is the upholding of that institution by the ascertainment of continual PROFIT. you know why you're malibu breaks Down? it's because chevy wants u 2 buy another, newer one. one of the Brand new Cheaper for GM cars cuz it was produced in mexico. GM doesn't care about america, american people's outlook or the upholding of american Values they are more concerned with Profit. Exxon doesn't care about the oil stain in the ocean except for the fact that they lost out on some Profit in that mess. So don't talk about morality, decency or Ethics, For these concerns are entirely secondary, in our profit driven society. }}}!!if i were a rothschild i would build these people schools and hospitals and plumbing systems and what not!!{{{

It seems to me that it's a bit ridiculous to compare Eastern traditions and european.It's a waste of time, because things that seem awful for us are normal for people from this part of the world.There are of course many questions to discuss.Violance takes place everywhere.

"What gives you the right to judge someone elses cultural morality based on the view of your own? That makes you ignorant."

Culture my ass!