Afghan child bride escapes marriage after being sold to cover debt

A six-year-old child bride and refugee from Afghanistan has escaped an arranged marriage.

Nagma Mohammed, a 6-year-old child bride and Afghan refugee has escaped an arranged marriage.

Nagma Mohammed, an Afghan refugee and child bride, has escaped an arranged marriage.

Unable to repay $4,797 (US $4,500) for medical bills, Taj Mohammed married off his then six-year-old daughter to a money lender's 19-year-old son.

"It was a difficult decison," Mr Mohammed told CNN. "Everyone gives away their child, but to give her away like this was just so hard."

Mr Mohammed said he felt immense pressure to repay what he owed.

"When I couldn't pay my debt I felt like I had been thrown into the fire."

An anonymous donor settled the debt and US human rights lawyer Kimberley Motley facilitated the child's release from the arrangement.

Human Rights Watch estimates that 14 million girls are married worldwide each year, with many of the cases occurring in countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.