As many as 80 percent of marriages in Afghanistan take place without the consent of the bride, who is often a child. Many of them see killing themselves as the only way out.
Weddings are one of the few occasions in Afghanistan when families and friends can forget their sorrows and the ongoing violence in their country and have some fun. It is also traditional for the bride to put on a sad face because she is leaving her family; she is not allowed to smile. However, for many brides this is not an act. They really are unhappy at their weddings and not because they are leaving their families but because they are being forced into a marriage against their will.
Read more: http://www.dw.de/afghan-women-escape-marriage-through-suicide/a-16750044
Tags: forced marriage, honour, violence
