“The Price of Young Love”
Jack Healy
Herat, Afghanistan
Upfront Magazine, October 3, 2011
As a teenager in America, dating in is a common trend. This is not the case in other parts of the world. Read the following article, "The Price of Young Life,"and post your comment on the blog.
The Price of Young Love
Questions for thought...
1. What if dating was not allowed in the U.S., how would you respond?
2. What if your parents were the ones to decide whom you should marry or what you should do with your life?
3. What price would you be willing to pay for this freedom?
Questions for thought...
1. What if dating was not allowed in the U.S., how would you respond?
2. What if your parents were the ones to decide whom you should marry or what you should do with your life?
3. What price would you be willing to pay for this freedom?
I think that Rafi Mohammed and Halima Mohammedi should be able to date, and any others in their positions. At the same time, thier way of life forbids dating and thier parents make the decision for who you are to get married to. The two teenagers felt that thier love for each other was more important than thier lifes. What if it was illegal to pick your own wife? I know that I would do what ever i could to be with the one I want. Even if that means running to a different country like many people end up doing.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI agree with that, if you love someone you should be with them and not have to worry about being sent to jail or being killed. Its sad to think that these two people and others who have broken the law trying to be with the one they love will be put in jail for the rest of their life.
DeleteOne thing that surprised me most was the reaction of Halima’s family. I would be distraught if my family told me that I should die rather than be free. In America dating isn’t a very big deal and it was surprising to me to hear about how the entire community reacted to Rafi and Halima dating. If we were not allowed to date and our parents chose who we married it would bother me. Thinking about who they would end up picking and if I would even like them would drive me crazy. I think that Rafi and Halima should be released and allowed to continue dating. Sadly, I don’t think this will happen because of the beliefs and strong feeling of their community.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it would be bad enough to be thrown in jail, then on top of that your own family even turned against you.
DeleteI absolutely agree with you Natalie. I realize that dating is looked down upon in their culture and religion, but as a parent, you should be your child's strength and their shoulder to cry on. If I had a child that was put in jail for such an innocent crime, I would be trying everything that I could to get them out. I would not be happy with the fact that they ended up in jail, but I would still love them and care for them, just as any parent should.
DeleteRafi Mohammed and Halima Mohammedi should be able to talk to each other without being beaten,imprisoned or killed. The right to be able to talk to other girls without being put into a force marriage must be something sacred in Afghanistan. Even though most couples will end up fleeing the country to another country just for the love of their partner.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBeing wanted killed because you are in love hurts in the first place knowing its die or regret choosing a life unhappiness but to be wanted dead by your family because you followed your heart and didn't have someone pay for you to be their personal slave unthinkable. I personally feel if they are not killed they should run away to get married and away from their families that want them dead.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, and I absolutely think that they should run away from their families. Maybe it's just me, but I find it extremely disturbing when you're own family wants to kill you for falling in love.
DeleteI completely agree. If I lived in a country with laws such as this I would flee regardless of the situation. Why wait until you're practically sitting on death row to run away?
DeleteI completely agree, Vania! It's absurd how they can't act upon their feelings because of the crucial consequences.
DeleteNot having the right to innocently date in your teens without being arrested, beat, or killed is wrong. The fact that the people of the Islamic religion take this so seriously is insane. They take everything to such a far extent. The rules of the religion have been so intensely ingrained in people's heads that they actually want loved ones dead by dating someone that was not chosen for them. I also think it is wrong that a father can benifit with money by pushing his daughter into a marriage she does not want and is stuck in for the rest of her life.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that Muslims that I have had the opportunity to speak with, states that the abuse that is reported in our country is not Islamic. But yet, it is continually reported about in the media.
DeleteIt shouldn't be a matter of life or death for two people that are interested in sharing a life together and are in love! It should be a happy time for your son or daughter to find someone special, but the thought of having your family think negatively about the situation is not right! Especially because they would go as far as to wanting them imprisoned or killed. I think the rules of the religion should of course, be changed; they need to realize that they're are not beneficial, and that people should be in control of their own lives! Not controlled by someone else.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree people should be allowed to control their own lives. Plus I don't really understand how this is accepted with the religion they are suppose to centering their life around. I couldn't imagine what religion would see this as acceptable or any human being for that matter.
DeleteIn Afghanistan, in a traditional Muslim society dating is nonexistent. Parents do arrange marriages, marring off their daughter for money. Not following this tradition can lead to death, a painful and slow death. I agree that this tradition is wrong, because as Rafi says "when you love somebody, you don't ask who she is or what she is. You just go for it." Or as Halima says, "God created us from one dirt, why can we not marry each other or love each other?"
ReplyDeleteGreat reference to the article!
DeleteRafi Mohammed and Halima Mohammedi were once dating,but dating in Afghanistan is not allowed.They were split up and if were to date again they would have been executed.Rafi would do anything to get Halima back even if he has to risk his life.The father was even supportive of Halima's death,I mean her own father!A mob came out and the security tried to stop them but they got angry even killing one person.Both Rafi and Halima are ready for death if they are not re-united.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. How would you feel if you were put to death, or thrown in jail, or even killed by your own family. If the love of your life was thrown in jail, you can't see her, and she might end up dead because you and her fell in love. Good commet though and you had some really good facts.
DeletePeople always talk about how messed up America's government is, but what about that of Afghanistan, where the make you choose between forced marriage with life, or love with death? Anyone caught dating in the Afghanistan society can suffer severe consequences, such as hanging, stoning, public flogging, and more. Women are usually subject to the will of their families or fiances, being sold at a high price or being used to pay off debts, and marrying/dating for love is considered criminal. In the case of lovers Rafi and Halima who are STILL in jail, they are waiting to find out what their sentences for their "crimes" will be. Just for the record, half of Americans wouldn't be alive right now if we lived by the same law.
ReplyDeleteNow that's a scary thought!!!! Half of America...
DeleteIt is sometimes hard to comprehend the cultures of other countries, because their customs just seem absurd at times (at least in comparison to our own). Dating in our (american) society is a pretty common occurrence that isn't really thought of as a outrageous act, unless you have a strict family or something. But, even in that case, death is not a common consequence. If dating all of a sudden was not allowed, it would be complete chaos and rebellion, in order to retrieve what we feel in our country is a basic right. Now, if it was my parents responsibility to plan my life and who I would marry (for THEIR financial gain), I would be ticked. I see myself as a pretty independent person that likes to make my own opinions and sees things from different points of view. I would probably try to revolt, even if it ended in my demise I guess. I don't really see the point of living without getting to choose what you want to live for. So, yeah.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is ridiculous! I understand if the family is just trying to protect their children or something, but using them for personal gain. I mean sometimes it's the only way they can survive, but if the guy finds a nice girl he wants to marry and they're happy together I don't understand why people won't let them be happy? And then the family of the Man who died in the mob demanding that she be killed! Unless of course she marry's one of their sons. It's completely unfair! It's nobody's business but the two people involved in the relationship and their families. It's not a political debate!
ReplyDeleteThis is crazy. The Iranian government should know this type of behavior on the governments hand makes their country look undeveloped and crappy. If I was Rafi i would fight for the right to see Hamila or protect and try to save people that are in the same position he was. This way everyone could be safe and ok with "young love."
ReplyDeleteI agree. If this kind of society is in a developing stand point why are they doing this? It does make them look bad and ridiculous.
DeleteDid you read the article? When did Afghanistan become Iran?
DeleteIn the article, Price of Young Love, two teenagers who met at an ice cream factory decided to be boyfriend and girlfriend, but they did this secretly because relationships as a teenager, which is illegal in Afghanistan, which is an Islamic country get caught trying to get married without the parents of both families permission. When this happens a crowd of 300 people get mad and attack the boyfriend who's name is Rafi Mohammed, and he is 17 years old. The mob leaves the girlfriend alone, who is supposedly 17 years old, the girls name is Hilima Mohammedi.
ReplyDeleteThe parents of the two family's were so mad and ashamed, they wanted there kid's put to death. Halimas uncle came and talked to her and said "when she got released they promised to kill her". And if the parents didn't kill her another mob of people most likely would, and kill Rafi.
The couple both stayed in juvenile and the "Council Leader" said what the young couple did wasn't a crime but they needed government protection. So as you can see in Islamic countries there are many restrictions, and if you disobey them you would most likely be beaten, mutilated, or even killed.
Now in my opinion about this article is that "Muslims" over react really bad, that's all I got to say about that, but just think how good we in America have it. We live free lives do what we want to as long as we follow the law, and we can also even have boyfriend's and girlfriend's, and even marry who we want too. So us, the people in American have it pretty good compared to other people in other countries.
But aren't they violating the laws of their country?
DeleteIn the "Prince of Young Love", the right of choosing who to date is not something that women have the right for. They were locked up for being in love and they were supposedly they were in juvenile prison for protection from the rioting people. In my opinion, that law would be broken and the government would not be able to be enforce it throughout the United States, and honestly who would follow that law (comment and tell why or why not).
ReplyDeleteIf this was a law in America, would it not be enforced as well?
DeleteYes here in the U.S we wouldn't be able to maintain the law against dating because it isn't in our culture and also the law would be considered taking away our freedom which would cause people to protest it. In Afghan their land is ruled by theocracy. In the Koran it states that an "Adulterer" is someone who is married or single who has a sexual relationship outside of marriage. So what they were doing wasn't that so much adultery, but people judge quite quickly. People that grew up in the culture there would't see it as we do, but see it as a sin. They would be angry, some even out to kill. So maybe juvenile prison was the safest place for them.
DeleteBeing beaten, threaten for death, and put in jail for life because of dating, is that really necessary? Islam is trying to spread the religion into further countries, is having all this violence making this religion look good? In my point of view, with these beliefs and rules, this religion and government is only set up for failure. Don't you think so?
ReplyDeleteI agree. All these laws are just pulling people down. It wouldn't surprise me if women starting committing suicide because they can't do anything.
DeleteThis is not right. Putting two people in jail for falling in love is just stupid. I know that it is their culture for the parents to pick who they should marry ,but still putting them in prison for just talking to each other. The two teenagers even had an adult there but what happens to him? He gets beaten to death and the two teens get locked up and get threatened. Her uncle said that even if they didn't kill her he would do it for them. This is a very messed up way to live what do you think?
ReplyDeleteIn Afghanistan, two teenagers dating is considered a crime. It's also considered financial transgression when a teenage girl dates someone that her parents didn't choose for her, because traditionally the groom's family pays the father of the bride money for her. One girl who was caught and jailed for this, has had visits with her family, in which they told her if she was ever released they would kill her, because she had shamed them. This is sad, that they can't even date who they please, they're only allowed to date who is chosen for them.
ReplyDeleteNow do they really date the man that is chosen for them or just married?
DeleteI think that teenagers in the Middle East should be aloud to date. I also think that their family's should be supportive of their children. To think that teenagers dating is a grime that can lead to the kids being killed is wrong. If it is so bad for teenagers to date in the Middle East then the kids should be aloud to live ou on their own seperate from their perants. Most of the marriges in the Middle East are prearanged by the perants. The teenagers in the Middle East should have the freedom to choose who and when the marry.
ReplyDeleteI think that the reasoning behind beating those who date is completely cultural. Because of the theocratic nature of Afghanistan and the surrounding countries, the religion is the law, and therefore, just as we believe that 'all men are created equal' and that dating is a right, the citizens in Afghanistan have grown up in a society that shuns this activity, and the offenders are at the mercy of their peers. From our point of view as a community, and my personal point of view as a person, we think that what they are doing to those who date is wrong, but over there, it is completely socially acceptable.
ReplyDeleteIf price of love is death in other countries why are Americans always finding ways to complain about the one their with ? If these beliefs were present in the U.S. today their would not only be controversy , but people would honestly think that they're being treated wrong . In my eyes our love life is personal , deceitful , and painful . Why Complain ? In other countries the PARENTS choose their LIFE LONG Companion ! Honestly if my parents had to pick my wife I would honestly be okay because my parents know my type of woman . What Price Would I Pay For Love ? I Would Honestly Die For my mistress , wife , girlfriend , or newly found companion .
ReplyDeleteI found the reactions of Halima's family very disturbing. Could you imagine hearing your own family members telling you that they thought you should be put do death, even though you were only doing what you think is right? If the law of no dating was enforced in America I can not even begin to imagine the termoil it would result in. I would be willing to risk running off to another country if that meant getting the freedom I want and deserve.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you Allie. It's ridiculous that they aren't allowed to even date. Something so innocent is being blown so out of proportion and the family's reactions are scary.
DeleteThis article truly amazed me. I had no idea that people in the world were being killed just for TALKING to unmarried non-relatives of the opposite gender. If kids in the U.S. couldn't date or even talk to eachother, I fear it's younger population would diminish rapidly as young adults and teenagers flee to countries with more freedom or get caught and killed. The fact that Halima's family wants her and her boyfriend put to death seriously frightens me, as I'm sure it does many others. If I knew my parents hated me, I don't think I could live with myself. Perhaps it's just my American biased self, but how so many people in Afghanistan don't see the wrong in killing children for talking, I'll never know.
ReplyDelete- Keith
I agree. I think that their family needs to be more understanding and supportive. I also it is wrong to hit and kill people, least of all children, it makes me grateful to live in America.
DeleteFrom the article "The Price Of Young Love"
ReplyDelete"An angry crowd of 300 surged around the couple, calling them adulterers and demanding they be stoned to death or hanged." All of this for Rafi Mohammedi 17, and his girlfriend Halima Mohammed 17 who wher caught conversing a car. The love affair started when they here employed at an ice cream shop in wester Afghanistan. Halima has had six teen years of primary school, and wanted to further her knowledge by studing English her family denied and sent her to work of $95 a month. Rafi had started a month there "whispering hellos" Halima had tossed her number at his feet. they began to talk on the phone which their familys disliked. You see the come from two diffrent ethnic group which didnt help their situation. Afte hiding their relationship for a year they decided to meet and get married. They had only got 30 feet when the were blocked by an car then a bunch of men came and imprisoned them. Having no support from their familys all they could think about was each other.
I feel like the people who read this and dont understand the culture are very bais of the article. We think that thats wrong and that they should be able to see eachother. But to them its like spitting in their faces. They beleive in arranged marriages, and that the woman should be submissive to the men. This is a MALE DOMINATE country. The men are the leaders. Most woman are lucky if they can go to school. So to them this is dishonorable. To us its ridiculousness that a man and a woman who love each other cant be together without faceing major consequences.
If dating wasn't allowed in our country/culture, things would be entirely diffrent, the same with planned marriage.In America we have certain rights that allow us to make choices that effect our lives such as choosing your spouse. And if we can't be apart of that decision, then our freedom is beeing threatened. So, it might just be my opinion, but if my Mother and or Father tried to set me up with a randmom stranger, I would be outraged!
ReplyDeleteWhat continues to bother me is how unreligious this is. There is a tale that the first humans had two head, 4 legs, and 4 arms, but one heart. God split humans because of sin to forever try and seek the second half of their heart. If so, why are people in the middle east being forced to marry someone they don't want to, why are they not allowed to date or search for that special one? I know I wouldn't have anything to do with a man my dad forced me to marry, these women are strong willed and try to fight for what their heart is chasing. They have no where to turn to though, the government just returns them. The middle east is a mine field for any female. If they declare this as a religious practice, what other things are they doing behind close doors with the supposeded permission of God?
ReplyDeleteHarima and Rafi should be able to date. Death to the two of them wouldn't solve anything. How can a couple of teenagers be criminals just for dating someone that caught their eye? Halima and Rafi come from two different ethnic groups, which makes it worse. But it is clear that it does not matter to them. Rafi still hopes to have Halima returned to him. The government should free them.
ReplyDeleteNot being able to have the involuntary emotion of love could be best described as not having the right to breath once you have loved someone. In this article teenagers of opposite sex cant talk to each other even go near each other but manage to find a way to socialize even though it is illegal. Rafi and Halima are like any other typical teenagers, you like a certain someone then you fall for them. In Afghanistan dating is illegal and you could be killed for it. The families of these two kids are against them because they have talked! "Halima’s uncle visited her in jail to tell her she had shamed the family, and he promised that they would kill her once she was released. Her father, an illiterate laborer who works in neighboring Iran, sorrowfully agreed." I couldn't image my parents saying you cant have emotions for her because your going to marry another girl. I would probably move away so i couldnt be told who i couldnt love. Through all of this this teenagers are being treated like they are the first people to feel like this toward each other but in fact most likely many people in both families have had a love for another person at a young age. I dont see why their so against it,they may not be happy because they are married to someone they dont love and now their forcing their children to be just as unhappy as they are.
ReplyDeleteIt's crazy how easy we have it in America compared to Afghanistan. Here, if you wanted to, you could talk to whatever person you wanted to talk to, no matter the gender. It's so common for us to develop feelings for another person that we feel it's insane for teenagers on the other side of the world to not be able to express their feelings without being punished. We look at it like it's not fair at all, whatsoever, but then, Halima and Rafi's parents probably look at it like they betrayed them in a way. I'm sure if we were from their culture and religion we'd probably see what Rafi and Halima did as a terrible thing, but we're not so obviously we see it as how their parents did a horrible thing. I honestly hope that one way or another Rafi and Halima do find their way back to each other and are safe and don't have to die just to be together. But at the same time, I think if we flipped the script and looked at things the way their parents did, then we'd also be infuriated.
ReplyDeleteI don't see the point in not letting a boy talk to a girl. Its kills me to see that their own parents want them dead because of them falling in love. How could a parent not care about their child that much to want to kill them. I can't believe how good we have in the United States and still people complain. I can't see how anyone would want to be a part of that kind of religion because no one has any rights and if someone makes one little mistake they get killed and everyone hates them. If my parents had to choose who i was going to marry, i would pack my bags and run away. I should be able to marry who's right for me, not them.
ReplyDeleteI honestly believe that all people should be able to chose that one special person you want to spend the rest of your life with. In the Middle East their parents chose the person they are going to marry, therefore they are not allowed to date. Boys and girls are not even allowed to talk to each other and if your caught your going to face some serious consequences. When you bring shame upon your family for something like this they want you dead and it's so heartbreaking that they have to go through that. It makes me relize how good we have it here in the United States.
ReplyDeleteNo one should have to mary someone who their parents choose. In the middle the parents choose who their child marries. Girls and guys aren't allowed to date on their own free will which is terrible in my opinion. I don't see how people can live like this. If you go behind your parents back and talk to someone who you want to be with, but cant, you will both face terrible things. When you do things like this you will make yourself and your family look bad which makes your family disown you and could careless what happens to you.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Kelsie. Having to marry somebody your parents choose will not always turn out to the walk in the park that most people would hope for. When your parents take away you own free will, there's not alot that a person has left. When you try to regain some of your free will by talking to somebody of the opposite sex, the punishment is to extreme when dealing with the situation.
DeleteAlthough I think that dating and love should be personal choices, the families in the middle east don't have much of an option because their country is so deep in poverty. When the parents arrange the marriages, they are basically giving up one child to save the rest of the family. I don't think it's right or moral, but it is most of the time their only option. I believe the real problem in the area is not the arranged marriages, but the combination of religion and government. Wars have been fought and many people have been hurt or killed because the Middle East decided to force a religion on it's people. The price of love doesn't apply here because they aren't paying for love, they are paying for marriage.
ReplyDeleteTwo teenagers fall in love and get sent to jail! It makes it worse that they could be punished by death. In Afghanistan you are set up to be married by your parents and cannot date at all. One time when her own family visited her they told her that she should be killed because of the disgrace she caused her family just by dating a boy they did not set her up with. It is terrible that her own family would want her and her boyfriend dead just because they were talking.
ReplyDeleteIn the passage "The Price of Young love" two 17 year old kids Rafi Mohammed and Halima Mohammedi fall in love in an ice cream factory. The only problem is they cant see each other because in Afghanistan dating is forbidden. The two try to make things work by going on a secret date. during there date the two get caught and are sent to prison. You would think that the parents of these teens would do everything that they could to rescue there children, but instead the parents want to see the two killed because they dishonored there family. Halima's uncle came to visit her and "if the government doesn't kill you then we will. I feel that if you love someone you should not have to worry about being sent to jail or being killed.
ReplyDeleteYeah you would think the parents would be on there side, i just don't get how they wouldn't! I totally agree with you. I know i would not care about anything stopping me from being with that secret lover. Amen
DeleteWhile reading this article I could not believe the story that was being told. I couldn't imagine what it would be like in America if we were not allowed to date or were forced into arranged marriages. In my opinion the definition of marriage is spending the rest of your life with the person you love. Apparently in Afghanistan and many other Middle Eastern countries marriage is a way to pay off a debt or a way to cash in. In my eyes this is absurd. I was sickened when reading the quotes from Halima's father and uncle. The quotes only convinced me that they couldn't care less about their daughter and niece. I wouldn't know what to think if the people I have known my entire life thought I should be killed for finding love or going after something I believe in.
ReplyDeleteLove, is what humanity lives for. It is the definition of life, in many peoples opinion. Without love... There would, honestly, be no point in living.
ReplyDeleteThe price of young love in Afghanistan is absolutely sad. You get stoned to death in public? Hanged? It's horrible. The severe consequences for loving before marriage are absolutely cruel and ridiculous!
If my parents were to tell me who to marry, I would go insane. It's so, unreasonable for parents to choose who their children must marry! The main question is... Why is this part of their culture? Why? Parents don't know who their children love, only the children do. They can't feel what their children feel. It's stupid.
Now.... I'm sure anybody is willing to go to juvenile, with, the promise that once they get out they will get their loved one back. But, death slow, painful, death and never getting to see your loved one again... Stupid.
Brice I honestly agree with you! The World can not function on hate but can function on love! I do disagree a little on what you said about how parents don't know how you feel. While yes, parents can not know what you feel they can see how is good and bad for you! Someone you "love" is not always the person who is really for you and parents can see that! But! On the subject of picking who you marry, well that is stupid! You are right about you being the only one who can truly know if you love someone. I feel like there punishments are harsh for dating or "love" and i think they should let up on it and allow people to date and find who is best for them.
DeleteHonestly , my opinion about the article is if Halima and Rafi loved eachother like they said they did , then i dont see what the problem was about them talking i didnt think i didnt think they did anything wrong. In society everyone has a crush or a sweetheart , a husband or wife , irf you were forbitten to date how would you feel ? What if you were stoned to death for talking to a(n) boy or a girl in public . That's just crazy. For Hamila's father to say " The government should kill both of them ", its just retarted literaly. Why bring your'e child on this earth if you were gonna choose what they do ? But taking away s teen's life for dating , isnt right but then again thats my opinion about everything.
ReplyDeleteAfghanistan is a traditional muslim society. Dating is not allowed and your parents arrange your marriage. If you are caught with another person you can be punished by death. I think this is just crazy. Your parents should allow you to date whoever you want. They should not arrange your marriages for you. Because really they don't even know who your marrying. It seems like the parents just want the money that the groom pays them for the bride. In Halima's story, she was spotted in a car with her boyfriend, Rafi, which was not the person her parents picked for her. A group of men yanked them out of the car and questioned them. They pummeled Rafi and they were sent to a juvenile jail. Her own father said that the government should just kill them both. Its just not right and its really sad.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the fact that the ethnic group they were in made such an impact on what the people did is wrong. Like Rafi said, "It's the heart," Rafi says. "When you love somebody, you don't ask who she is or what she is. You just go for it." This is very true! Ethnicity really does not matter in the person you love! It is about how well you match with the person! People should be allowed to do whatever they want without ethnicity playing a part.
ReplyDeleteThe Price of Young Love in our country is practically free! We (the people of the U.S.A) take this for granted. In Afghanistan it is shunned upon to talk to the opposite sex even if your married. I like Rafi feel that it should not matter if you talk to someone of the opposite sex. It is one thing if your badmouthing them or harassing them constantly, but just having a nice conversation with someone should not be a bad thing that could get you killed or thrown in jail! It is a way of life in Afghanistan though but many young lovers are beginning to protest because they say its sucks to have your parents pick out your spouse! many young lovers also are afraid of having an abusive spouse that they did not choose to marry, but their family did! I feel sorry for the young people of Afghanistan and wish they could have it as good as we do!
ReplyDeleteTo us Americans, love is a feeling that everyone wishes for. Everyone wants the fairy tail happy ending. In Afghanistan though, it never ends that way. Poor girls as young as 8 years old were forced into marriage. I have an 8 year old sister so imagining my sister being forced into marriage absolutley sickens me. Who wants to live in such a cruel society? Marriage is all about finding your one, your soulmate and spending the rest of your life with that person, not being forced to "love" someone for money. That's not love. That there is abuse to girls. I see no problem in the couple having feelings for eachother and just wanting to talk. It's better to have natural love than having girls try to run away from abusive men who don't even love them. Most of the girls end up killed because they are abused so bad. Reading articles like this make me so appreciative of my life and all the great rights i have. I love being free.
ReplyDeleteIn Afghanistan dating is not as innocent as it is here in America. As a young couple well realizes. The two had met at a factory and after looking at each other at work and talking over the phone they decided to meet and get married. Yet there was a problem in their plan. Where they live it is not acceptable to date and especially not to marry the man our parents have chosen for you. They tried anyway though and went to the courthouse with the boy's cousin. On the way there they were stopped by a big group of people and were attacked. The cousin was killed by the mob and the teenagers where taken to prison. They are still awaiting their fait in jail with no outside support. The parents of the teenagers are ashamed and have promised them that if the government doesn't kill them than the family will. I can't begin to imagine my family stoning me to death for something as innocent as dating!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLike most people in the U.S. would believe, I think assigned marriages are horrible. I believe you yourself should choose who you want to spend the rest of your life with. In Afghanistan if you are secretly seeing someone who you are not assigned to marry then it's considered adultery. If they are accused of adultery then they will be punished. Punishment such as being beaten, incarcerated, and even killed. Well that's wrong because you are not married to that person yet. You should be able to see whoever you want! When kids our age date they are learning how to communicate with the opposite sex, which will help them with their marriage later on in life.
ReplyDeletei agree because if you dont get to spend the rest of your life with the person of your choice your not going to have the best life.
DeleteHolt your blog i Agree 100% with what you said.How could your marriage be based on someone choosing your partnership for the rest of your life? The U.S is the land of the Free and home of the Brave. If Dating wasn't allowed in the united states then how would the population increase we would soon lead to defaults in our economy and have a lot of declining business. If our parents chose who we married or dated how is that? Its like going up to someone and saying hey do you want to be the mother of my child. I would not date the women my parents would tell me to what if i dont find her attractive or cool to be with and you have to really love someone before moving on in a relationship. The price i would be willing to pay for my freedom to date who i want to will be DEATH.
ReplyDeleteI think that if the love that Rafi and Halima share overlooks the ethnicity differences then what they do is their business. I believe the inequality of women in their country is the base cause of all of this turmoil. This “price of love” is simply a disregard of basic human rights. Afghanistan is one of the Islamic countries where people hold so tightly to customs and traditions it somehow blinds their judgment. Yes, they were violating laws of their country, but aren't their laws based off of religious beliefs? Isn't that some type of biased way of handling things?
ReplyDeleteIf you can not date while growing up, how are you going to know what to do when your older? The reason why you "flirt" is to learn about the other gender. If dating wasn't allowed in the U.S., i am almost positive that everyone would be very angry because that is how it has been since the beginning. If my parents where the ones to choose who i married, i would run away because only you know what you want. I would die to be with that one person that i love.
ReplyDeletePrice of Young Love
ReplyDeletetwo teenagers fall in love at work were they are not aloud to associate with each other and arent aloud to date. If i went to jail for dating i would laugh because that is the most stupied thing i have ever heard of. If my dad and uncle therented to kill me for dating and ending up in jail they would have to kill me. Its not right to put teens or anyone in the postion that they are forced not to be with the one they love.
The girl and boy in this sitution are going through a lot and i believe in what they are fighting for. I feel like now i would say that i would do what they are doing just for love,but if i was really put in that situation i dont think i could live up to what i said. I wouldn't be able to hear my family telling me that when i got out they would kill me themselfs that is very harsh. The only reason that this girl and boy are alive is because they are in the prison. If they were out on the street they would be dead, because it is such a disgrace to their familys and the family would want that disgrace to go away so bad they are willing to kill their own family members. Now that huge and very very wrong and i disagree with the family members words. Its so sweet that the the boy said this :"I just pray that god gives [halima] back to me. i'm ready to lose my life. i just want her safe release." It is so sweet that he would say that and that is true love that he would give his life her.
ReplyDeleteI think if dating in the United States wasn't allow I really wouldn't want to be here. I mean we all have the right to meet people and choose who to marry. We also have the right to choose what to do with our lives. If our parents were the ones to choose who to marry and what to do with our lives then we would always depend on them to tell us what to do. And we have to be able to speak for ourselves, and make our decisions. If I was Rafi Mohammed or Halima Mohammedi, I would do anything to have this freedom.
ReplyDeleteLet's be honest, we've all liked or had a crush on someone before. In Afghanistan kids are punished severely and in some cases even killed for just talking to a member of the opposite sex. Rafi and Halima are a young couple who were discovered together, and jailed because of it. Still in juvenile prison, Rafi prays for Halima's safe release. Two teenagers only looking to experience love, hope, devotion, are now looking at a life with no potential for freedom and even the possibility of death.
ReplyDeleteThe Price of Young Love
ReplyDeleteWho would want their parents to control their life in dating? Definitely not me! I would consider it a catastrophe. Love is an emotion that cannot be told what to do! It comes from your heart. even if my parents did try to control that part of my life, I would find a way to make through it.