The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan

The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan

2010, Society  -   139 Comments
6.91
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Ratings: 6.91/10 from 139 users.

The Dancing Boys of AfghanistanThe Dancing Boys of Afghanistan exposes the horrific practice called Bacha Bazi, in which young Afghan boys are sold to warlords and powerful businessmen to be trained as dancers who perform for male audiences in women's clothing and are then used and traded for sex. The practice is sadly making a comeback in that country.

As the West pours billions of dollars into the fight against the Taliban in southern Afghanistan, an ancient tradition (banned when the Taliban were in power) has re-emerged across the rest of the country. Many hundreds of young boys living in extreme poverty are lured off the streets on the promise of a new life away from destitution, unaware their real fate is to be used for entertainment by the warlords and other powerful men of Afghanistan.

Having gained remarkable access inside a sexual exploitation ring, award-winning Afghan journalist Najibullah Quraishi investigates this illegal practice, the consequences of which are shrouded by a focus on the war. The film exposes the lack of support from those in authority and explores possible responses to the plight of children in this conflict zone.

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Rabbitnexus
Rabbitnexus
2 years ago

This practice and the opium trade both returned once we occupied the country. Both did so with our blessing and protection. The Taliban will stop them both now.

Starr
Starr
2 years ago

Welcome to what women the world over have dealt with for the entire history of humankind.

B.
B.
5 years ago

I hope these demented pedophiles burn in hell. Those boys have been indelibly harmed.

Sammy Childers
Sammy Childers
7 years ago

This documentary is very disturbing and should not be to let happen . It is wrong in whatever country or religious beliefs. Sick people in the world and anyone who says this is a good thing for the poor children are crazy themselves.

Bo Beck
Bo Beck
7 years ago

Orlando, Florida: We pray for you. Mateen's father claims (online)to be prime minister of Afghanistan. Forsooth, he has indulged in this kind of activity!

RT
RT
7 years ago

YES Maria!! I know we all try to make sense of this, with all our thoughts flying around. Sure Pedos are everywhere, but check it out. Atleast the US has a means to track them. Seriously, free run off the country, would mean A LOT more sex crimes in America. Free run of Afghans opium and "boy play" equals, TWISTED! Addicted pedophiles. We can find them in our own back yard. Should we be in Afghanistan?? Well, are any of US qualified and privy to the secrets behind why we are there? Probably not. A bunch of debate here. Very little enlightenment. #StopBoyPlayEverywhere

Fayazahmad
Fayazahmad
8 years ago

too sad this is real i am from aghnistan and all afghan people are willing too attain such type of program

Maria
Maria
9 years ago

If you do some research, you will find a very organised ring for under age boys in Europe, Britian and the USA. It's a sick practice indeed, but don't be an ignorant and say that it's because women are not accessible in Muslim countries. In western countries sex is available in abundance, and yet pedophiles are everywhere, even the most powerful in governments who seemingly have wives and children...yet..they have thier never ending supply of young boys. Why don't you google "Boys town" and see what you get, and search for why pope benedict really retired. Unfortunately, this problem has nothing to do with the religion or geographic location, it's about powerful men abusing thier powers, in some countries the child is taken from the parents without revealing the true purpose..and in other countries children disappear and you'll see that child's face on the news as "missing".

Toby Magyver
Toby Magyver
9 years ago

It's an ancient pederastic Pashtun tradition that predates Islam, Societies that deprive men from having normal healthy contact with opposite sex will inevitably end up with sexually frustrated men creating substitutes.

Engaging123
Engaging123
9 years ago

The Devil NO DOUBT has residence in Afghanistan! Deplorable, Ignorant and disgusting..... why is America giving aide to Afghanistan; there is a reason Russia and the US have spent a combined 20 + years in that country... Is it Oil? Why? There is some reason and it has nothing to do with Bin Laden or Terrorism!

Mohsin
Mohsin
10 years ago

Quite sad indeed but this practice is quite common in many countries not in shape of dancing boys but similar to it. The biggest problem for this horrible crime is the money, secondly the education and thirdly culture.

afftongrown
afftongrown
10 years ago

And this iswhat we're allowing into our country?

colleend219
colleend219
10 years ago

If you watch the documentary you'll see that these boys are also killed when they get to be too old to be interesting (around age 16). Also, the families often sell them willingly.

Gadea
Gadea
10 years ago

Afghanistan men are really hardcore pedophiles.
That is what this video is saying.

Venus MJ
Venus MJ
11 years ago

This is so sick....

Lucia Pancurakova
Lucia Pancurakova
11 years ago

The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan exposes the horrific practice called Bacha Bazi, in which young Afghan boys are sold to warlords and powerful businessmen to be trained as dancers who perform for male audiences in women’s clothing and are then used and traded for sex. The practice is sadly making a comeback in that country.
As the West pours billions of dollars into the fight against the Taliban in southern Afghanistan, an ancient tradition (banned when the Taliban were in power) has re-emerged across the rest of the country. Many hundreds of young boys living in extreme poverty are lured off the streets on the promise of a new life away from destitution, unaware their real fate is to be used for entertainment by the warlords and other powerful men of Afghanistan.
Having gained remarkable access inside a sexual exploitation ring, award-winning Afghan journalist Najibullah Quraishi investigates this illegal practice, the consequences of which are shrouded by a focus on the war. The film exposes the lack of support from those in authority and explores possible responses to the plight of children in this conflict zone.
Tancujuci chlapci Afganistanu sa vystavuju hroznej skusenosti nazvanej Bacha Bazi, v ktorej mlady Afganski chlapci su predani vojvodcovi (vojna pan) a do silneho obchodu aby boli cviceni ako tanecnici ktory sa predvadzaju muzskemu publiku v zenskych satach a su potom pouzivani a predavani(obchodovani) na sex. Uskutocnovanie je smutne robenie navratu na scenu v krajine. Ako Zapad leje biliony do boju proti Talibanu v juznom Afganistane, stara tradicia (zakazane ked Taliban bol v moci) sa znovu vynorila cez zvysok krajiny. Vela stoviek mladych chlapcov zijucich v extremnej chudobe su pokusani z ulice so slubom noveho zivota prec z chudoby , netusiacich ich skutocny osud je ze budu vyuzity na sexualnu zabavu vojnovymi panmi - generalmi- a inymi silnymi muzmi v Afganistane. Preto ze dosiahli mimoriadny vstup do sexualneho vykoristovanie kruhu, vyherca ceny -novinar- Najibullah Quraishi vysetruje toto nelegalne vykonavanie, dosledky coho su zastresene pred sustredenim sa na vojnu. The film odhaluje nedostatok podpory od tich v uradoch -pravomoci- a skuma mozne odpovede aby dali slovo detom v tejto spornej zone.

Ez
Ez
11 years ago

the war made deep roots in Afghanistan, creating corruption and a comfort zone for pedophiles. Therefore the UN should take actions now to stop this criminal spreading to other countries without waiting the end of the war.

Diogenesusa
Diogenesusa
11 years ago

These atrocities against innocent children are simply another example of the hollow proclamations of Islam being a religion of peace. The lifelong devastation to the psyche of a child is tantamount to the loss of a limb if not causing greater mental torment. The drug lords of Afghanistan enjoy the protection of not only the puppet government of Karzi, but the complicity of the United States (OBama), along with the United Nations. A professing Islamic nation that produces over 90% of the world's heroin. A schizophrenic religion that punishes the sin of dancing and making music by cutting off the heads of seventeen Muslims, yet embraces sexual deviance, and the production of poison intoxicants for the world's consumption. The financial backs of the American taxpayer groans under the weight of supporting societies whose internal conflicts and hypocricy is beyond the pale of civilized nations.

kellie
kellie
11 years ago

At the moment someone has the whole video on youtube. Just type in the name of the documentary. Not sure how long it will be up though.

GirlSunday
GirlSunday
11 years ago

Dancing boys are cool as long as they want to dance. Dancing boys that are tricked, then raped and forced into slavery, not so cool. That's the difference.
You cannot compare porn and rape, unless its smut, but then it is illegal and most normal ppl don't like that crap anyways. Are you aware of where this film took place? Little boys don't have a say to what their terms are. And if the only choice is to starve or dance and get raped then there is something wrong with the place that they live. This isn't philosophy 101. You are swinging the pendulum into pedophilia territory. Pls save the intelligent convos for war debates, women rights and abortion. This one is not debatable.

Rebecca Hu
Rebecca Hu
11 years ago

I completely agree that forcing innocent boys into property "party favor" / prostitutes is criminal and should be stopped by authority. Having said that, I think the phenomenon of Bacha Bazi deserves a closer and more complex examination once the illicit aspects of it has been addressed. What I mean is, this raises more questions, such as why is Bacha Bazi so demonized while other similar practices like pornography, geishas, transgendered entertainers in Thailand, etc, is tolerated, even celebrated? Again, before any trolls start flaming me online, I'm just opening up an avenue through which sexuality can be viewed, its behavior in cross-cultural societies surveyed, and the limits of sexual decency redefined. When America makes Sasha Grey a celebrity, and makes reality tv stardom of toddlers and tiaras (yes, a very tasteless show, but one that has profit and fandom to show in the industry nonetheless), what makes dancing boys so much more gruesome a case? At what point do we draw the line of taboo and crime, and at what point do we leave it up to personal freedom and sexual tolerance? Finally, at what point do we look at Bacha Bazi and call it "art"? (I am referring to the boy who claimed that dancing is his passion, and that he is self-motivated to pursue Bacha Bazi. I'm trusting that while exploitation and sexual slavery exist, so does the case where boys in pursuit of a career enter the industry on their own terms).

Mohammad Tayyab Khusro
Mohammad Tayyab Khusro
12 years ago

sick sick sick sickkkkkkkkk

Asad Khan
Asad Khan
12 years ago

@Ellen Murphy: Bro, it is right that rich and powerful people dont truly lose BUT what if a person has lost humanity? what if a person has lost relations with God? what if a person has lost the human being senses? what if a person has lost his position in public hearts? Can we call him a WINNER? And in Afghanistan the loser is often some one completely different. Cruel people are always given punishment via public warriors and that is why we are proud. But some are punished soon and some later. Now, these powerful people lost their reputation in the eyes of ISAF, NATO forces and other countries too. And on the other hand Taliban are also their Death angels. So I hope that this information will be enough to change your idea and never try to be a slave of rich & Powerful people BUT always try to get freedom, if not for urself then at least get freedom for ur new generation.
Thank You

Fap Masta Wong
Fap Masta Wong
12 years ago

I dont get it why do they have sex with boys are they homosexual

SUNA ERKMEN
SUNA ERKMEN
12 years ago

I am speechless, it is beyond sickness... want to belive that the video I just watched was not happening in real, this is a horrible sin & crime...

Ellen Murphy
Ellen Murphy
12 years ago

There nothing but a load of pedo pimps and there training these poor boys to be the same as them so they will become the mosters that trained them....And its even more paathetic how these sick cowards hide behind there titles and the police that are supposed to protect the youth...Its a sick and pathetic culture!!

Asad Khan
Asad Khan
12 years ago

We are the Israelis of Time and Powerful people are the Pharohs of Time but No Moses to save us. They are the Israelis of Today and we are the Palastineans of Today but a socalled UN to save us. They are the Modren Smokers and We are the Ciggarets ( they buy us for their addiction, changes us into ashes for their pleasure and finally put their foots for killing us). A country with Poor but Proud people (the Afghan Nation) - with Weak and Corrupt Government - with Pure Culture - with Plenty of Uneducated People - with Corrupted Parliament - with ISAF and NATO friends (that kills more civilians than Taliban, the true sons of Afghanistan) - with Pakistan and Iran Friendly Neighboring Countries (that has always been the causes of War on Afghan Earth) and with Plenty of personal enmities ( my two uncles and four cousines are a good example that died) and with a lot of Racism and Discrimination IS CALLED AFGHANISTAN. I respect every religion (Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Induism and every other one) but oppose of Secularism, Now our Powerful people are Secular internally but the Angels of God externally so how can the Afghan nation truely respect them? Oh guys! I am writing this comment that I swear my eye are full of Tears with sad Emotions heart and the Realities of this Nation will even make a Donkey to weep. Just a shit Democracy that takes our Culture, our Liberty and our True Elders. lolz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Slap guys these are the Benifits of the Modren Democracy.

By: Proud Pashton Afghan

Abdul TheBarber
Abdul TheBarber
12 years ago

why are the americans keeping quiet on this!! .why aren't they enforcing law

H Neil Sangte S
H Neil Sangte S
12 years ago

sick ....sick....just sick!! now im having nightmares!!

law4poor
law4poor
12 years ago

Dudes! Accept my kind Regards. This practice of Boy Play is still going on in Afghanistan. I dont know why Afghan politicians call Taliban as cruel and I wonder that why Afghan politicians call suicide attackers as mad and insane people. In fact, if this kind of cruelty is going on an a country, every man of that country will become a Talib and a suicide attacker. Is it a sin to be poor??? Ahhh? Not at all!!! If you are poor, should you be used like a toy for playing or should you be helped and supported? There are many members of the Afghan parliament that they keep play boys for sex and playing. Just think, if an MP that passes the laws of a country and still acts against the law, will it be fair to call this system of government legal??? Many warlords are still the powerful men of the country and they play on our futures, but no one ask them why? Some of these powerful men were also play boy when they were 15 to 22. Abdul Rab Rasool Sayaf had a play boy called Asadullah Khalid and now Asadullah Khalid is a minister and having his own guys. Abdul Jabar Qahraman, who is a repectable MP of Helmand province and he shows himself like an angel with no sins, but he has kept more than three play boys. Gull Agha Shirzai ( Governor of Nangarhar province ) a trustworthy man to Nato Forces and close friend of USG, has many play boys. There are many Afghan powerful men that they themselves are busy with this horrific practice then who will avoid it? They have kept their play boys as secretaries, bodyguards or drivers in order to avoid people from suspecting them as gays or Bacha Baaz ( boy players). The only way of solution is to put a gun on their heads and send them to the real world, where the only judge is God. I have many proofs in my hands against them but can you find me some one that can punish them or can judge in this country??? You will never succeed.The new democracy has only given has a corrupted type of government, ruled by such corrupted people. The Ministers, Governors & MP's are all corrupted and busy with Bacha Bazi practice. Only God can save us and we only have blood to sacrifice it for our freedom from these nightmares.
Thanks a lot for reading it.

Michelle Cantu
Michelle Cantu
12 years ago

its so sad that females can be killed by their own fathers or brothers on just the suspision of not being a virgin yet these boys are being Prostituted. Isnt homosexuality a sin? how could he have fought in the jihad war against russians yet commit the sin of homosexuality. Your morals are quite messed up people.

STINKFIST2012
STINKFIST2012
12 years ago

In the United States of America we have our warlords and generals (people of power and status) like the ones they show and talk of in this film. But the difference is that in the United States of America if you are middle to lower class...YOU are the "dancing boy"! Calm down people just a metaphor forthe sad mess the US has become. No disrespect for the poor impressionable young victims that are being used and abused by these sick pedophiles that have power and money. But really folks, think about it. Those kind of sickos are evrywhere. These guys are just masking it as a status sybol or tradition. BS. They are just pedophiles with enough power to perpetuate their (and human natures) dark , basic, carnal desire. It's a story as old as man...or monkey. ;-)

Brittney Kroiss
Brittney Kroiss
12 years ago

This made my stomach turn and soul wrench.

Rachelnico
Rachelnico
12 years ago

That is so sad...I feel so sorry for these boys.

driss
driss
12 years ago

Anyone trying to say this has anything to do with Islam needs to get off the hater wagon, A. 60 of the men in afghanistan cannot read, 85% of the women. In any language, I can't Imagine that more that 5% of the men can read arabic, even the taliban cannot for the most part. And while everyone knows that some so called sheiks have taken advantage of an uneducated populace, this is not one of those cases this is a sick Afghan practice, nothing to do with Islam, yes they happen to be Muslim, nearly 2 billion people are, however, how can they know what is right and wrong in Islam if they cannot read the Quran in Arabic, it is not like the Bible, which accepts translations as the same, the Quran is only the Quran in Arabic,so how can they know they cannot.

toolbar
toolbar
12 years ago

Sick motherf--kers. I wonder what they are praying to.
Somebody really needs to blow them to kingdom come

Beckett08
Beckett08
12 years ago

We should have just bombed this place to kingdom come.

Hammer2Fall
Hammer2Fall
12 years ago

Why don't these men simply breed children of their own for Bacha Bazi, instead of wasting money by buying someone else's child of poverty? This is a terribly flippant comment but does a raise legitimate question about attitudes towards children including their own.

Mooska Raoofi
Mooska Raoofi
12 years ago

the taliban were trying to correct these wrongs by the only way they knew how- strict fundamentalist islamic law. this is only the tip of the iceburg. other atrocities i.e. abducting women, dancing girls, etc were ALSO banned by the taliban, only to have returned. the taliban were takin small steps but bottom line this s*** wasnt going on. when america funded the afghan war to win but then leave the country in ruins- there was ANARCHY raging. taliban brought back law and order to a country now lost 2 generations of education. and now, we are back at step 1.

KsDevil
KsDevil
12 years ago

This is what you get when children are considered items to sell. Are we any better in the West with our capitalism placing money above people?

His Forever
His Forever
12 years ago

I can't describe the rage I felt watching the "abduction by deception" in this film!

"In a country were woman are hidden behind the berqua, young boys take their place, dancing for men as female substitutes . . . a life of sexual slavery and even murdered."

Bacha Bazi = boy play.

Yeah, I'd like to take my garden sheers to your "bacha bazi"!

issue23
issue23
12 years ago

It's insane how it's very much ok to behave like that, as a middle-aged man in Afghanistan. To be proud of it, no less. The cultural difference (which 99 out of 100 times, I embrace, and am all for) from what in the West is normal, is striking.

ranii02
ranii02
12 years ago

disgusting..

Pamela Quinn
Pamela Quinn
12 years ago

This video is reason enough to pull our troops out of Afghanistan. If under the Taliban this was banned as were the heroin poppy fields. Why are our troops their throwing our democracy at them, not only is it costing Billions of £`s it is costing immense trauma for these children. SHAME on Tony BLIAR, who is far too busy spending his blood money. He has this on his hands now the filthy ugly human specimen.

jubbs_sher
jubbs_sher
12 years ago

prayin' paedos!!

Rasmus Bjerregaard Jensen
Rasmus Bjerregaard Jensen
12 years ago

Why is it, every time when a religion reaches a certain point the priest´s muslims, the inkas proberly, everyone just feeling like "F***ING YOUNG BOY`S" .....!!!! 1700th europe, the vigkings, the romans, and the list goes on.....???

Michael
Michael
12 years ago

Prison would be too good for these men!!

StillRV
StillRV
12 years ago

This doc. was a disturbing look into a cultural depravity I had thought was a sort of one off incident depicted in "The Kite Runner". Reading that book I had no idea that it was/is far from a singular occurrence. I know that most of the regulars on here are nonspiritual but even as such you all must admit. Acts such as these do more than harm the bodies and minds of these victims. An indefinable aspect of these boys will forever be marred beyond repair. To me I can only call that aspect their soul. These victims (as with all child victims of similar abuses) have had their souls torn from them. Look into the eyes of one such as these boys and you will no longer see the glimmer of life in them. This is not political, it is not religious, it is not cultural, This is a sickening madness, it is sociopathy at it's most base display. The will of one man to destroy someone weaker than themselves to their very essence. No punishment can suit the crime, and no "cause" or "reason" can justify them.

Bryan Pierce
Bryan Pierce
12 years ago

Looks like Muslims and Catholics have a lot more in common than I thought

Mohammed El Hamraoui
Mohammed El Hamraoui
12 years ago

Thanks Taliban for banning Bacha boy and Opium. Thank Obama for bringing that buck to Afghanistan