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Sohelia's father threw her in jail for refusing to marry a man she was betrothed to at age 5

You don't need to be told that women struggle for their rights in Afghanistan. But even the fight to live can be revoked by some families who feel they've been shamed. It's illegal of course, but that doesn't seem to matter much....
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The Current24:26Women in Afghanistan still face violence and abuse, but some advocates say conditions are slowly getting better - Oct 31, 2014
You don't need to be told that women struggle for their rights in Afghanistan. But even the fight to live can be revoked by some families who feel they've been shamed. It's illegal of course, but that doesn't seem to matter much.


Three years ago when our Friday host Laura Lynch was reporting from Afghanistan, she met a 20 year old named Soheila. Her life path was set when her older brother ran away with a woman betrothed to another man. That man was infuriated and came to Soheila's house looking for revenge.

To appease the man, Soheila's father promised the man that he could marry his daughter. Soheila was only five. And that promise led to a journey that's included jail, death threats and safe houses.

Listen to Laura Lynch's documentary


Soheila's story is one that documentary filmmaker Zohreh Soleimani has been following and tells in the film To Kill A Sparrow. We reached her in Emeryville, California.

Parnian Nazary is the Advocacy Manager with the organization, Women for Afghan Women. She was in Washington DC.


This segment was produced by The Current's Liz Hoath.


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