Paedophilia 'culturally accepted in south Afghanistan'

[nick]

British forces were advised by a military study that paedophilia is widespread and culturally accepted in southern Afghanistan.

Older, powerful men boosted their social status by keeping boys as sexual playthings and the practice was celebrated in song and dance, a military study claimed.

British officers in Helmand requested the study to help them understand the sexual behaviour of locals and Afghan comrades after young soldiers became uneasy they were being propositioned.

American social scientists employed to help troops understand the local culture reported that homosexual sex was widespread among the Pashtun ethnic group in southern Afghanistan.

Strict separation of men and women, coupled with poverty and the significant expense of getting married, contributed to young men turning to each other for sexual companionship.

"To dismiss the existence of this dynamic out of desire to avoid western discomfort is to risk failing to comprehend an essential social force underlying Pashtun culture," the report said.

The study, called 'Pashtun Sexuality', said that as well as willing sex between young men, "boys are appreciated for physical beauty and apprenticed to older men for their sexual initiation".

The practice of 'bache bazi' or boy play, is known throughout Afghanistan, but is particularly renowned in the city of Kandahar next to Helmand, where prepubescent boys are widely admired.

Western soldiers often report feeling unease at the attentions of their Afghan comrades, who are affectionate with each other and sometimes wear make-up.

British troops have also talked of their disgust at police or militias keeping young boys as hangers on.

Anna Maria Cardinalli, author of the report, said British officers requested the research in the summer of 2009 when she worked with them in Lashkar Gah.

She said: "They were having young men who were beginning to feel uncomfortable because they felt they were being approached." She said the study gave no advice about what action troops should take if they confronted paedophilia.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: “Afghanistan is a sovereign nation with its own law under which the sexual abuse of children is illegal.

“British forces working as part the wider [coalition] force continue to work with and assist the Afghan National Security Forces, including the Afghan National Army and Afghan Police, to ensure that the rule of law in Afghanistan is adhered to and upheld.”


Source (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/8257943/Paedophilia-culturally-accepted-in-south-Afghanistan.html)

[Magus]

I believe there is a wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacha_bazi) article about it. Yes, it's true. Speaking of double standard - in one place they kill for Allah, and in other they sell and rape boys. Shame on them.

[Tristin.]

why does the west not remember the days when we did this sort of behaviour? The Patriarchs of modern society, rome, greece, persia etc did this all the time, it was a sign of learning, the younger boys learnt from the older. They took solace in one another while away at war.
yes its wrong but why do we look down on them as lesser things? we did this did we not?

[nick]

Not recently

[PJay]

This is something we had to discuss last year at school. I think there is a knee jerk reaction about this subject and people don't think clearly about it. Obviously Nick's post shows that like a lot of things people call 'wrong' it just depends on when and where you live.

Some random thoughts in no particular order ...

Paedophilia in modern society is always seen as being a form of abuse, whether or not the 'victim' was a willing participant. Some younger people like older people. It may just be sex or they may be other benefits (such as in ancient greece, or sugar daddies or whatever). If its consenting, why should society get involved?

The details always seem to sell papers, which makes me think some people get a kick out of reading about it, which always seems hypocritical to me.

Some countries have looked at it a bit more sensibly where the age of the older person is close to the younger, but in the UK there have been loads of examples where the one over the age of consent gets put on the sex offenders register where the one under the age of consent might only be a year or two younger.

Paedophile actually means "boy lover" which must mean all gay teens on this site (including me) are pedos. Gasp. Modern use of the word means more than this obviously, but it came from a time when it was just a description not an accusation.

Most people seem to agree that young people are generally more attractive than older people, so aren't people being a little hypocritical by banging on about how bad pedophiles are? How many of them have underage pics in their porn collections?

Its gradually sinking in that its not automatically ok when the older person is a woman and the younger is a boy. For a long time this was seen ok for some reason, showing people weren't thinking clearly.

[Donkey]

Paedophilia in modern society is always seen as being a form of abuse, whether or not the 'victim' was a willing participant. Some younger people like older people. It may just be sex or they may be other benefits (such as in ancient greece, or sugar daddies or whatever). If its consenting, why should society get involved?
While I agree with the essence of the point, and agree with the same - it should be ensured that children are intelligent and mature enough to make coherent or reasonable decisions regarding such matters.

The details always seem to sell papers, which makes me think some people get a kick out of reading about it, which always seems hypocritical to me.
It's more about the sake of gossip, naturally humans love gossip and nattering about other people. I don't think there's an erotic element to the articles, lol. Well perhaps a rare few, and why not? Doesn't harm anyone.

Some countries have looked at it a bit more sensibly where the age of the older person is close to the younger, but in the UK there have been loads of examples where the one over the age of consent gets put on the sex offenders register where the one under the age of consent might only be a year or two younger.
Usually there is a lot of logic and reasonableness in the system when it comes to the age of consent actually, if you can find some of these cases I'd be interested.

Paedophile actually means "boy lover" which must mean all gay teens on this site (including me) are pedos. Gasp. Modern use of the word means more than this obviously, but it came from a time when it was just a description not an accusation.
I think it's useless referring to previous definitions, paedophilia means sexual attraction to prepubescent children if one is an adult or late adolescent themselves, so you don't fit in to the modern definition.

Most people seem to agree that young people are generally more attractive than older people, so aren't people being a little hypocritical by banging on about how bad pedophiles are? How many of them have underage pics in their porn collections?
There is a strong difference between finding people attractive or acknowledging that they are attractive and having sexual desires regarding the same people. It remains that paedophilia, like homosexuality or other minority sexualities, is not the norm.

Its gradually sinking in that its not automatically ok when the older person is a woman and the younger is a boy. For a long time this was seen ok for some reason, showing people weren't thinking clearly.
Once again, don't know anything about that - all paedophilia seems to be wrong is the general impression I get from society. You could do with buffing up your argument a bit Paul, but essentially I do agree with your ethos.

[PJay]

While I agree with the essence of the point, and agree with the same - it should be ensured that children are intelligent and mature enough to make coherent or reasonable decisions regarding such matters.

Yep, that would be good. Who decides we are?


It's more about the sake of gossip, naturally humans love gossip and nattering about other people. I don't think there's an erotic element to the articles, lol. Well perhaps a rare few, and why not? Doesn't harm anyone.

Well yeah it does, if they are encouraging the papers to print more smut. Of course ppl love gossip, the more juicy the better. Erotic? I suspect so but not required.


Usually there is a lot of logic and reasonableness in the system when it comes to the age of consent actually, if you can find some of these cases I'd be interested.


some random stuff from sexting - older ppl involved & getting in trouble.
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=692314
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5516511.ece
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/14/child-pornography-sexting (same story, different paper)
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2010/04/susquenita_high_school_officia.html
http://www.wtae.com/news/18469558/detail.html


I think it's useless referring to previous definitions, paedophilia means sexual attraction to prepubescent children if one is an adult or late adolescent themselves, so you don't fit in to the modern definition.

Yeah i wasn't wanting to get hung up on dictionary defs which are the refuge of the lame anyway, i was just trying to make the point that the word has like an emotional reaction with it.


There is a strong difference between finding people attractive or acknowledging that they are attractive and having sexual desires regarding the same people.

Attractive means more than than thinking someones pretty. I mean I think one of my girl cousin's is really pretty, but I'm really not thinking sexy thoughts when I say that. Anyway ignoring that, if someone is pretty you are more likely to think they are sexy than if they weren't pretty, aren't you?


It remains that paedophilia, like homosexuality or other minority sexualities, is not the norm.

Yeah but you see it is in Afghanistan apparently. Certainly was in ancient greece.


Once again, don't know anything about that - all paedophilia seems to be wrong is the general impression I get from society.
yeah and it probably is a lot of the time in my opinion : i'm not trying to defend someone abusing a kid, you understand. I'm just trying to do what you said in another thread and think about stuff ;-)

Oh and I had to look up ethos lol. I'm not quite sure what you meant, but where i'm coming from is i get annoyed at people thinking what the papers tell them to think.