9
data. The other secondary sources will include books and existing researches done on the same
subject that will help to get relevant data about the subject and support the research to gain
effective insights from the research. These researches will help to interpret and encapsulate the
texts of the chosen articles which will help to address the objectives of the study (Patton, 2005).
Inclusion and exclusion criteria are also an important aspect in secondary research. This tool
mainly helps to choose the right kind of data for the research and leave out those articles which
are not relevant and if used in the research might hinder the result of the research. In the present
research, the inclusion criteria constitutes aspects, like the articles chosen for the research should
be in English as the present research is done in English, it should be relevant to the present
chosen topic for research, the studies will be done in Afghanistan, The validity and reliability of
the study should be properly assessed or else should be excluded from the research
(Taylor et al,
2015)
.
1.10. Chapter Summary
The first chapter lays the basic platform for the research. It provides effective
information about the subject of the research and also helps to introduce the key variables of the
research. In this case this chapter has introduced the subject effectively by discussing the Bacha-
Bazi or boy play which is a brutal act against afghan male children where they are forced to
dance in women attire and later they are subjected to sexual harassment and rape. This chapter
has discussed the rationale for the research and the problem statement which highlighted the key
problem that is prevalent in the country Afghanistan (
Baily, 2013)
. It could be said that the first
chapter is always important to set the right tone for the research to go forward and it has been
able to do so by discussing the key objectives taken up for the research and also discussing the
research questions which are highly relevant to the present subject of research. It could be said
that this introduction section has been able to provide the basic idea of what this research will
discuss and also provides the reader much needed information present situation in the country
regarding Bacha-Bazi. Overall to conclude it could be said that the first chapter of this
dissertation has been able to disseminate the basic knowledge of the research by discussing the
key variables which allows the readers to get hold of the research subject and the rationale of the
organized research.
10
CHAPTER II
THE ACT OF BACHA-BAZI
2.1. History of Bacha-Bazi
Bacha-Bazi is an abusive term used in Afghanistan. It involves a number of practices
including sexual exploitation of children. It also includes the practice of homosexuality between
an adult male and a child (male). The teenage male children are sold to powerful and rich men of
Afghanistan for their entertainment (Ng & S 2014). The powerful men of Afghanistan use these
sold teenage children for a variety of activities which includes making of porn films of these
children or child prostitution. Existence of Bacha-Bazi in Afghanistan is there since ages and is
presently taking place in several parts of Afghanistan. A usual element of this practice is forcing
the children for several sexual acts. The security officials present in Afghanistan are unable to
stop these practices. The security officials state that the maximum of the men who are involved
in Bacha-Bazi practice are very powerful and carry several arms with them so it is not possible
for the officials to save all those children from this practice (Bailey & J 2013). Bacha-Bazi
formally conveyed the sentence of death penalty for all the boys performing dance. The practice
of dance by the boys is considered illegal under the law of afghan. Since ancient times, the
practice of Bacha-Bazi is a frequent practice in central Asia. Many of the western travelers
visiting central Asia have reported about the practice of Bacha-Bazi. This is a serious issue
which is hardly raised or discussed in Afghanistan. The issue of Bacha-Bazi is again combined
with the absence of correct and detailed information and accurate knowledge. Boys aged nine
years as well as eighteen years are ‘found’ or bought in by all the powerful and rich men of
Afghanistan. In such a bankrupt country, the boys are easily available for carrying out such kind
of sexual activities.
Afghanistan has been slashed apart after the war (Aronowitz et al, 2015). This war had
resulted in increasing number of orphans. There rises a very minimal question of a teenage child
staying with an adult man as teenage boys are openly accepted in the country. The families of the
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boys or brothers or nephews who are going to be taken away are initially lied about their sons
that they are actually going to become a sex slave. Once the rich and powerful men buy the
teenage boys, the boys are then kept alive as companions throughout their lives. The powerful
and rich men who has bought these children, expects all the sexual favors and dance from these
children (Ehsan et al, 2016). These boys are not allowed to go to schools. After these boys had
turned too old and ‘bearded’ these boys were then sent away or even treated as untouchables for
the rest of their lives. A number of these boys even get addicted to drugs for the rest of their lives
which is of no use according to them. After a certain point of time, these boys are dressed and
presented as women and they perform dance numbers in all male functions. These boys are made
to wear bells while performing dance numbers. The boys even have to shake their shoulders
while dancing (Ijaz et al, 2014). The duration of their performances can extend up to three hours.
These boys performing dance acts can be sexually harassed by a single man or number of men
after completion of their performances. The boys can be harassed after the guests depart and the
music stops. The rich and powerful men might kill the teenage boys if they object to any activity.
The teenage boys can also get killed if they try to lodge any complain regarding any man or any
activity. If the boys do not perform at the functions, the powerful men can even harm the boys in
many other ways (Carlson & S. L. 2012). The boys can be even put to jail for life time or they
can be harmed in many other ways by the powerful men of Afghanistan if they try to notify the
security officials that they have been kidnapped and raped. Only the dancing boys have to suffer
for their entire life time. Rest of the male community enjoys their life with celebration, dance,
music, food and possible sex. Overall the male community of Afghanistan leads a good life
excluding the dancing teenage boys. Men of all ages are invited at such functions. These men
consider it to be an honor to attend such events as these events are hosted by powerful wealthy
men of Afghanistan which may also include few political influential people. The powerful men
behaving as owners of these teenage boys, who are treated as slaves, are hugely satisfied since
they have a secondary companion to provide them with sexual favors. The men “warlords” of
Afghanistan are even more satisfied with the fact that keeping the teenage boys as slaves and
demanding sexual favors from them is considered to be a status symbol in public. None of the
citizens of Afghanistan would suggest these powerful men that the relationship they share with
the teenage boys demanding sexual favors from them is actually a homosexual relationship. No
one would even suggest that this homosexual relationship is even against the Islam (Khan et al,