Following the US military intervention in Afghanistan, US soldiers operating there have frequently reported horrific sexual crimes committed against children, especially little boys, by Afghan soldiers working with the US. The stories vary from the rape of a child while he’s working in a field to the chiming of a little boy to some Afghan official’s bed to serve as a sex slave. The horror doesn’t stop here. US soldiers are asked to ignore these sick events, sometimes happening in US bases, and stand by and watch these crimes happen.
The official rules and guideline of conduct for American forces operating in other countries oblige soldiers to respect different cultural beliefs and acts of their allies of different nationalities. These guidelines don’t mention anything about taking action if human rights violations occur. Even worst, these guidelines consider sexual assault as a cultural act that should not be considered as a crime, and US soldiers who tried to take action against it have been punished. A sad example is the case of Lance Buckley Jr. who was shot after he revolted against the tolerance of American soldiers when it comes to these sexual crimes. Plus, harsh disciplinary actions were taken against a US soldier who beat up the Afghan official who chained a little boy to his bed as a sex slave. Furthermore, the US contributed in rationalizing pedophilia in Afghanistan since it described it in its official reports as a natural culturally accepted act in Afghanistan. (http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/10/09/the-use-and-abuse-of-culture-and-children-the-human-terrain-systems-rationalization-of-pedophilia-in-afghanistan/)
In fact, Afghanistan has been suffering from child sexual abuse since long ago. The concept “bacha bazi” which means the sexual entertainment of wealthy adults by little boys has been present in central Asia before the romans. In Afghanistan, bacha bazi is still present with little boys forced to dance and entertain men and satisfy their sexual desires. As sick as this sounds, it’s unfortunately the reality for a lot of kids in Afghanistan. The famous movie “The kite runner’ portrays this reality and tells the story of a man who’s nephew is forced into bacha dazi. In 2010, the website WikiLeaks revealed a shocking fact: contractors in DynCorp, a private military company working with the US government, payed a bacha bazi dancer during their visit to the country. The shocking news didn’t affect the relationship between the government and the company.
An interview done by BBC with an Afghan boy shows the despicable circumstances of bacha dazi.“I started dancing at wedding parties when I was 10, when my father died,” says Omid. We were hungry, I had no choice. Sometimes we go to bed on empty stomachs. When I dance at parties I earn about $2 or some pilau rice”. The reported asked him what happens when people take him to hotels. He bows his head and pauses for a long time before answering. Omid sayed he is paid about $2 for the night. Sometimes he is gang raped.I ask him why he doesn’t go to the police for help. “They are powerful and rich men. The police can’t do anything against them.” (http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/29547/the-filthy-culture-of-bacha-bazi-in-afghanistan/)
Words cannot describe the feeling of disgust and hopelessness i’m feeling while writing this post. We learn about social justice, but all i see is social injustice. If the most powerful country in the world who claims to be a model for respecting human rights is turning a blind eye on the rape of innocent children, how can I believe that social justice is not a myth? When will the screaming and crying of children being raped become more important than sick cultural traditions and international political affairs?
marcghazali203 