In the Afghan vocabulary, “bacha” means “guy”, and “bacha-bazi” is translated from Persian as “playing with boys”. What is hidden behind these seemingly harmless words these days?
The fact is that bacha is almost the most favorite entertainment for wealthy Afghans. For this, teenage boys from 11 to 18 years old are dressed in women's clothes and forced to dance in front of them. And having enjoyed the dance, men can spend the night with the dancers they like if they pay a lot of money.
What is bachi bazi common for?
The exploitation of young boys is a consequence of the fact that in Afghanistan it is forbidden to talk to women who are not relatives. And men who are not sexually satisfied are looking for other objects to satisfy their lust — they are the bach boys .
Where it came from is easy to trace. This practice began a long time ago, back in the 10th century. in the territories of modern Pakistan, Central Asia and Afghanistan.
During the Taliban, pedophilia was strictly prohibited, but after its fall, this phenomenon was revived with renewed vigor in the 80s of the XX century, in the south and east of Afghanistan. At various holidays and even at weddings, bacha-bazi are often present. It became normal to have at least one such boy with him.
Who becomes a bachelor?
As a rule, the poorest boys become bachels. These are former beggars and homeless people who have a rather soft and feminine appearance. Due to the fact that Afghanistan has a low standard of living and a lot of poor people, families often give their boys to the bacha-bazi pimps themselves, knowing full well what they are doing and what fate awaits their son.
But many boys are simply abducted - dragged into a car and taken away.
After the pimp got the boy, he is taught dancing, playing the instruments. When the pimp sees that the boy is ready for anything, he is sent to “ work ” - to please rich men, dance in front of them, entertain, and then give himself up in bed. Rich men do not care who the bacha is , it is important for them to have fun.
Boys who are over 10 are dressed up in women's clothing, shoes, hung with female jewelry and even put their breasts on. They are painted their faces, like girls, and taught female manners.
What bacha earns is given to the pimp, and he receives only a small part, which, as a rule, he gives to his family.
Boys can be divided into two groups:
- those who are in pre-adolescence, when they only learn everything that is required of them;
- post-puberty adolescents with some experience in sexual relations.
When a teenager turns 18 years old, as a rule, he already becomes uninteresting and get rid of him.
What do the boys themselves think about their situation?
It should be noted that the bacha themselves perceive their position differently. Some of them believe that serving and pleasing rich men, they will be able to climb the social ladder, acquire money and connections. And indeed, this happened when an influential “ boss ” gave Bache a lot of money, education and even a wife.
But, of course, this is rare. Usually the situation is very different and much sadder. After all, who is bacha , and what can he do against wealthy and influential men? Almost all of these boys are psychologically traumatized, intimidated, and humiliated from childhood. They are often raped and beaten. They can also be killed for refusing sex. The same fate awaits them for an attempt to escape.
The relation of the law to this phenomenon
Obviously, the phenomenon called “ bacha” is pedophilia and sexual exploitation of boys. Of course, law in Afghanistan prohibits this. Police and influential people talk about the unacceptability of this phenomenon, but they themselves often use it. The authorities in Afghanistan prohibit and condemn this phenomenon only in the media and in words, but in practice they do nothing and even encourage it.
Religion and Bacha Bazi
Naturally, Islam is against pedophilia and sodomy. However, the majority of the population does not know the Arabic language, cannot read it, and therefore does not understand well what the Qur'an is talking about. The poor strata study the Qur'an from rather inaccurate paraphrases of those people who themselves don’t know what the Qur'an is talking about and are not against the bacha-basi.
The consequences of bacha-bazi
The most terrible result of what is happening is the molestation and sexual exploitation of little boys. They grow up mentally unhealthy, inferior, injured. And often they are simply disposed of.
The situation with bacha-bazi negatively affects the status and rights of women. Naturally, men in Afghanistan marry women, but often they are not even sexually attracted to them. They marry because of tradition, religion and society, but not for the sake of love and relationships. In Afghanistan, it is believed that a woman was created for home and raising children, but bacha is for joy and pleasure. Women in this position are extremely depressed and unhappy.
What is bacha ? This is sodomy and pedophilia, namely they are one of the causes of conflicts between the Taliban and traditionalists. Because of the bach-bazi, the situation is aggravating not only within the country, but even beyond its borders. Indeed, such developed countries as the United States are considering whether it is possible and necessary to continue relations with a country in which pedophilia is normal? Most likely, even international charitable foundations and organizations will not want to support Afghanistan over time, so as not to support sexual exploitation and pedophilia.
As long as poverty, poverty and connivance are developed in Afghanistan, bachi-bazi will not go anywhere, pedophilia will also be developed as it is now. This phenomenon will disappear only when the government expels all pedophiles and bach-bazi lovers from their ranks. Bacha is a fatal phenomenon not only for boys, but also for the whole society where such a phenomenon is developed.