In the 4th century BCE, during the conquests of Alexander the Great, Greek culture penetrated Central Asia, including the territories of modern-day Afghanistan (then Bactria and Sogdiana). Along with Hellenistic traditions, Greek pederasty was introduced there. (This is the practice of relationships between an adult man and a youth, which in Ancient Greece was considered part of education and socialization.) Over time, across millennia, this tradition degraded and adapted to local customs, evolving into Bacha Bazi—the “game with boys,” where adolescent boys (often aged 10–18) dress in women’s clothing, dance, and become objects of sexual exploitation.
The first organized fight against Bacha Bazi only began in the 8th century CE. This practice encountered fierce resistance from Islam. The Quran and Hadith condemn pederasty (liwāt) as a grave sin, punishable by death under Sharia law (in most schools of Fiqh). Religious scholars issued fatwas against it, seeing Bacha Bazi not only as sodomy but also as child exploitation. However, despite the struggle waged by Muslims, the tradition persisted underground among the elites in medieval Persia and the khanates of Central Asia.
However, Bacha Bazi continues to exist to this day.
In the late 20th century, during the period of civil war and the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, Bacha Bazi reached the peak of its degradation: kidnappings, child trafficking, and systematic abuse became the norm among the Mujahideen commanders.
The Taliban, which emerged in 1994 as a reaction to the corruption and violence of these Mujahideen commanders, despite consisting partly of former Mujahideen themselves, positioned themselves as an alternative to their “depravity.” Between 1996 and 2001, they banned Bacha Bazi under the threat of execution. This became one of the factors contributing to their popularity. (Note: I am not justifying the Taliban! They went to the other extreme and banned everything altogether!)
Of course, after the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001, Bacha Bazi returned… But in 2021, upon regaining power, the Taliban banned it again according to Sharia, although in practice, it persists in some regions. Moreover, even members of the Taliban themselves have been implicated in it.