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The exploitation of Afghanistan’s ‘dancing boys’

A growing number of Afghan children are being coerced into a life of abuse as a result of the practice of wealthy or prominent Afghans exploiting underage boys as sexual partners. Read related story.

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Shukur, right, smokes a cigarette before going to the dance floor during a wedding party. He was kidnapped in Kabul when he was 12 and taken to Kunduz province, where he joined a growing number of Afghan children being coerced into a life of sexual abuse. He escaped after five years and now works as a dancer.

Barat Ali Batoor /

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