Who created bacha bazi?
But in 2017, two Americans attempted something unconventional. Lyricist Charlie Sohne and composer Tim Rosser created a musical about a subject even Afghans would consider too sensitive and unsettling – “bacha bazi” or “boy play”.
What language is bacha bazi?
Bacha bāzī (Persian: بچه بازی, lit. “boy play”; from بچه bacheh, “boy”, and بازی bazi “play, game”) is a form of child prostitution. Bacha bazi is a centuries-old tradition.
Do Taliban use bacha bazi?
After the Taliban came to power in 1996, bacha bazi was banned along with homosexuality. The Taliban considered it incompatible with Sharia law. Both bacha bazi and homosexuality carried the death penalty, with the boys sometimes being charged rather than the perpetrators.
Is bacha bazi common?
In the 21st century, bacha bazi is practiced in various parts of Afghanistan and Northwestern Pakistan. Force and coercion are common, and security officials state they are unable to end such practices and that many of the men involved in bacha bazi are powerful and well-armed warlords.
What happens when a bacha posh hits puberty?
The child can play sports, attend a madrassa, or religious school, and, sometimes crucially for the family, work. But there is a time limit: Once a bacha posh reaches puberty, she is expected to revert to traditional girls’ gender roles.
What is bacha bazi?
Bacha bazi, or ‘boy play’, is an Afghan custom that involves boys as young as nine being forced to dress as women and to dance seductively for an audience of older men. These young boys are typically owned by wealthy patrons, and are regularly the victims of sexual assault and abuse.
Are Pashtun bacha bazi men abused?
Many of the prominent Pashtun men who currently engage in bacha bazi were likely abused as children; in turn, many of today’s adolescent victims will likely become powerful warlords or government-affiliated leaders with boy lovers of their own, perpetuating the cycle of abuse.
What did coalition soldiers see as bacha bazi?
Coalition soldiers often found that young Afghan men were trying to “touch and fondle them”, which the soldiers did not understand. In December 2010, a cable made public by WikiLeaks revealed that foreign contractors from DynCorp had spent money on bacha bazi in northern Afghanistan.
What are the consequences of bacha bazi?
The first — and most obvious — consequence of bacha bazi is the irreparable abuse inflicted on its thousands of victims. Because it is so common, a significant percentage of the country’s male population bears the deep psychological scars of sexual abuse from childhood.