Witnessing The Dancing Boys Of Afghanistan: A Cultural Journey

The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan is a documentary film that premiered in the UK at the Royal Society of Arts on March 29, 2010, and aired on PBS Frontline in the United States on April 20, 2010. The film is about the practice of bacha bazi in Afghanistan, where young boys are sold to wealthy or powerful men for entertainment and sexual activities. It is available to watch on PBS and can also be found on Vimeo and IMDb.

The documentary 'The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan'

The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan is a documentary film that premiered in the UK on March 29, 2010, and aired in the US on April 20, 2010. The 52-minute documentary was produced by Clover Films and directed by Afghan journalist Najibullah Quraishi. It investigates the practice of "bacha bazi", an ancient tradition that has re-emerged in Afghanistan.

The film reveals that many hundreds of boys, often as young as 10 or 11, are being lured off the streets with the promise of a new life, unaware that they will be used for entertainment and sex. The documentary provides a remarkable inside look at a sexual exploitation ring, with Quraishi talking to the boys and their masters and documenting the complicity of Afghan authorities meant to stop these crimes.

The practice of "bacha bazi", also known as "bacchá", is a form of sexual slavery and child prostitution in which boys are sold to wealthy or powerful men. This business is thriving in Afghanistan, where many men keep dancing boys as status symbols. The documentary highlights that this practice is illegal under Afghan law and was banned when the Taliban was in power. However, it has resurfaced amidst the war and poverty in the country.

The film follows Quraishi as he goes undercover to investigate the illegal practice, meeting with those involved and documenting the stories of the boys caught up in this exploitative trade. It also exposes the failure of the Afghan criminal justice system to prosecute those who commit these crimes, despite the laws in place.

The practice of Bacha Bazi

Young boys, often from impoverished families, are forced to sell their bodies and dancing skills to meet their families' financial needs. Known as Bacha Bareesh or "beardless boys", they are dressed as girls, wear makeup, and dance at parties for groups of men. These boys are then passed around among the men for sexual gratification.

The boys are typically aged between 10 and 18 and are either bought or kidnapped from their families, often under the guise of providing them with an education or a better life. Their families are usually unaware that they are being sexually exploited and used as sex slaves. Once the boys reach adolescence and start to grow beards, they are released by their owners and expected to continue with their lives. However, the psychological damage caused by years of abuse and social isolation makes it difficult for them to reintegrate into society.

The perpetrators of Bacha Bazi are often former Mujahidin commanders or powerful warlords who hold important positions in the Afghan government, police, or military. Owning multiple boys is seen as a symbol of power and wealth. The practice is illegal under Afghan law and was also outlawed under Taliban rule, with death as the punishment. However, despite efforts to eradicate it, Bacha Bazi continues to persist due to corruption, cultural acceptance, and a lack of enforcement.

The documentary film "The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan" by Clover Films and Afghan journalist Najibullah Quraishi sheds light on this practice, providing a glimpse into the lives of these boys and the men who exploit them.

The boys' lives

The documentary film "The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan" (2010) exposes the lives of young boys in Afghanistan who are being sexually abused and exploited by powerful men. The practice is known as "bacha bazi", which translates to "playing with boys" and involves boys, often as young as 10, being lured off the streets and sold to wealthy merchants and warlords. These boys are then dressed in women's clothing and made to dance for entertainment, after which they are sexually abused by their owners or passed around among other powerful men.

The boys featured in the documentary include Imam, a 15-year-old veteran dancer, and Shafiq, an 11-year-old boy who was sold to a powerful man named Dastager. Shafiq was eventually rescued and reunited with his family, thanks to the efforts of the documentary filmmaker Najibullah Quraishi and a powerful warlord named Mestary.

Omid, a 15-year-old boy whose father died, also shared his story of how he started dancing at wedding parties to provide for his family. He often earns around $2 per night but is sometimes gang-raped by the men who take him to hotels. Despite the abuse he endures, Omid cannot turn to the police for help because the men who exploit him are rich and powerful.

The documentary also highlights the complicity of Afghan authorities, including police officers, in the bacha bazi practice. Despite it being illegal under Afghan law, the authorities responsible for stopping these crimes are sometimes themselves complicit, and the justice system is ineffective in prosecuting the perpetrators.

The boys who are exploited through bacha bazi often come from impoverished families or are orphans. They are targeted by men who cruise the streets looking for vulnerable boys and entice them with promises of money and food. The boys are then trained to sing and dance for male audiences before being sold to the highest bidder or traded for sex.

The stigma associated with being a "bacha bereesh" (dancing boy) leads to these victims being shunned by their families and society. They are often viewed as "gay" and struggle to reintegrate, with many turning to drugs or alcohol to cope. Some even become exploiters themselves, perpetuating the cycle of abuse.

The role of Afghan authorities

Najibullah Quraishi, the Afghan journalist who went undercover to investigate this issue, found that police officers, such as Satar Khan (chief of the youth crime department) and Jabar Khan (chief investigator), were present at illegal Bacha Bazi parties and did not intervene. This complicity extends to the judicial system, where a convicted child abuser was released from prison early, leading to beliefs that the authorities had been paid off by the boy's former owner, a powerful drug baron and warlord.

However, there are also instances of Afghan authorities taking action against the practice. In one case, Najibullah Quraishi enlisted the help of Mestary, a former senior commander, who used his connections to pressure Rafi, a Bacha Bazi pimp, into admitting that he and Dastager, another powerful businessman, had lied about Shafiq's death. Mestary then worked with Afghan government authorities to have Rafi interrogated and arrested on abuse charges. This suggests that there are individuals within the Afghan government who are committed to addressing this issue and protecting the victims.

The role of the Afghan authorities is crucial in combating the illegal practice of Bacha Bazi. While there are instances of complicity and a lack of enforcement, there are also examples of officials taking action and working to protect the exploited boys. It is important that the Afghan government continues to address this issue, enforce the law, and bring an end to this form of sexual slavery and child prostitution.

The journalist's experience

Quraishi's journey begins in northern Afghanistan, where he meets with a group of men who have agreed to provide him access to the secretive world of Bacha Bazi. He meets a former mujahedeen commander named Dastager, who is now a successful businessman and a devout Muslim. Dastager invites Quraishi to meet one of his favorite dancing boys, a 15-year-old boy named Imam, who has been borrowed from his owner for a small party. Quraishi also encounters other key figures in the Bacha Bazi circle, such as Rafi, the musician, and Golhom, a restaurant owner.

As Quraishi delves deeper, he learns about the buying and selling of boys as young as 11, who are often street orphans or sold by poor parents. He uncovers the disturbing reality of these boys being used for entertainment and sexual pleasure, often shared among powerful men. The journalist also discovers the complicity of Afghan authorities, including police officers, who are supposed to stop these crimes but are sometimes involved themselves.

One of the most heart-wrenching moments in Quraishi's experience is when he meets a young boy named Shafiq, who is around 11 years old and has been sold to Dastager. Quraishi forms a connection with Shafiq and is determined to help him escape. However, when he returns to the village, Shafiq has disappeared, and Quraishi is filled with worry and a sense of abandonment. He later learns that Shafiq has been found and returned to Dastager, and he takes private efforts to ensure the boy's safety. With the help of a powerful warlord, Mestary, Quraishi is able to rescue Shafiq and relocate his family to a safe place.

Quraishi's investigation also leads him to other boys, such as Nemat, owned by Golhom, and Abdullah, whom he meets at a wedding in Takhar. He hears stories of boys like Hafiz, a sought-after dancing boy who was murdered by his owner, a drug baron, and warlord. Quraishi meets with Hafiz's brother and mother, who share their tragic story.

Throughout his experience, Quraishi navigates constant danger and the challenge of gaining access to a highly secretive and illegal practice. He puts himself at risk to bring attention to the plight of these boys and to hold accountable those who perpetuate this form of sexual slavery. His efforts result in the arrest of Rafi on abuse charges, although the ongoing nature of the practice and the involvement of powerful figures make it a continuous battle.

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