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practice of homosexuality in Afghanistan which is not even prevented by the domestic law and
constitution of the nation in some certain aspects (Mondloch, 2013). Perpetrators use the excuse
of not being homosexual as they are not in love with the victimized boys for the exclusion of
Bacha-Bazi from the forbidden sins in Islam or Sharia Laws. Naturally homosexuality is
considered by most of the people to be a different format of sexual relation compared to the
sexual relation of a man or boy (English, 2016). According to recent surveys most of the people
in Afghanistan do not considered Bacha-Bazi to be forbidden sin in Quran or Sharia law as
homosexuality is defined as the loving and sexual relationship between homosexuals but Bacha-
Bazi is considered just to be a fun factor and temporary sexual pleasure with boys of young age.
Hence, it could be said that although there is no clear idea provided in Sharia Law for defining
Bacha-Bazi but it cannot be considered to be permitted in Quran as practices in Bacha-Bazi are
nothing different compared to the aspects of homosexuality (Erdogdu et al 2016).
3.4. Social Reaction Against Bacha-Bazi
In the social aspects of Afghanistan would be considered then a mixed reaction towards
Bacha-Bazi could be observed. In case of poorer socioeconomic segments of the Afghani society
majority do not support Bacha-Bazi due to the ill-treatment towards children. However, Bacha-
Bazi is considered to be a fun fact by a larger proportion of Afghani people due to the open
social acceptance of this system even in public and private ceremonies. In current state of
Afghani societies, Bacha-Bazi has just became a social trend which people enjoy by giving
money to the poorer facilities for utilising their children (Franks, 2013). In surveys, it has been
observed that many poorer families of Bacha-Bazi victims consider it to be an easy way for their
earning. Even, inadequate distribution of the educational system among poorer and higher rate of
illiteracy make it worst for poorer people leaving them without no choice except accepting the
torturous Bacha-Bazi and relevant sexual abuse and exploitation (Ng, 2014). Even in some cases,
socially and economically powerful people within the nation also force children to go though, the
torturous treatments of Bacha-Bazi by threatening those children and their families using social
influences and powers and that is called coercion in Bacha-Bazi. The factor which makes the
situation worst in Afghanistan for people to develop a better social protestation against Bacha-
Bazi is gaps in the legal system of the nation (Ehsan& Khalil, 2016). There is no certain criminal
law in Afghani Criminal Code to defend children against Bacha-Bazi except article 427 which
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prevents generic cases of rape. Hence, other forms of sexual exploitation and abuse are not
legally prevented within the nation which triggers the spreading of this practice within the
nation. Even in survey it has been observed that many victims of Bacha-Bazi and their family
expressed their depression about the fact that social and economically strong perpetrators often
utilises their social and economical power and political connections for coercion in Bacha-Bazi
(Ajmera& Fields, 2016).
If the global reaction towards Bacha-Bazi would be analysed it could be observed that
Bacha-Bazi is widely protested by people due to the ill-treatment towards children but no
potential protest has not been developed yet. For an example, it could be mentioned that during
the US military within Afghanistan the former US President Obama also guided the soldiers to
look other when if they observe the practice of Bacha-Bazi in front of them (Ng, 2014).
However, there are several of examples when US Army tried to save victims of Bacha-Bazi but
firm approaches have never been taken due to the support of a major proportion of the society
towards this offensive practice towards children. However, it should be mentioned that in recent
times the Afghanistan Government has taken various approaches by the help of other
international authorities to prevent Bacha-Bazi within its domestic territory. For the first time the
Afghani Government and UN worked together for developing a better National Action Plan
against Bacha-Bazi so that severity of this sexual abuse and exploitation towards children could
be investigated, trafficking of young boys could be prevented and perpetrators who buy and sell
these children could be imprisoned. It should be mentioned that around 4000 members of
Change.org wrote to UN for taking firm steps to prevent child trafficking and Bacha-Bazi in
Afghanistan (Mondloch, 2013). The current National Action Plan which has been enforced in
Afghanistan for preventing Bacha-Bazi is the result of on year of hard work of United Nations
Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), The Afghanistan Government and other civil
societies (English, 2016). The worst part with Bacha-Bazi in Afghanistan is that the little police
force of the nation is not adequately powerful enough to prevent such a widely spread and
reviving practice. According to recent report of UNICEF about Bacha-Bazi in Afghanistan it
could be said that many of the victims of Bacha-Bazi have been included by the government of
the nation for better enforcement of the National Action Plan as the victims are the most
authentic resources for realising the entire system of Bacha-Bazi depending on which younger
boys are sold and bought by perpetrators (Ehsan & Khalil, 2016).