- Muhammad Sadeq, an Afghan man, fathered more than 70 children with four wives, 58 of whom are still alive
- The family featured in a BBC documentary filmed in Afghanistan, showing the dire conditions in which the children live
- Influencers and social media users flooded the comments with shock and concern over the welfare of the children and their mothers
A BBC documentary has left social media users stunned after featuring an Afghan father who admits he struggles to remember the names of his own children.
Source: Instagram
Muhammad Sadeq, who lives in Afghanistan, has fathered more than 70 children, 58 of whom are still alive. His youngest child is just three months old.
What did Afghan father of 58 children say?
Speaking directly to the camera in the interview-style film, Sadeq made a startling admission:
"I cannot remember all their names. Most of the time, I simply call them 'son' or 'child'."
The footage was filmed across outdoor and indoor settings in a rural mud-walled village compound. Dimly lit interiors and scenes of numerous children going about their daily lives form the backdrop of what is a deeply sobering portrait of poverty and child welfare in one of the world's most impoverished nations.
The family struggles to meet its most basic needs, and 12 of Sadeq's children did not survive.
The clip was shared on Instagram and quickly spread across social media platforms, sparking heated debate about poverty, child welfare, and the responsibilities of parents in extreme circumstances.
Influencer Mel Tjoeng captured the mood of many with a simple reaction:
"These poor kids."
Others were less measured.
User @jcwelchy quipped:
"Funnily enough, he doesn't look hungry at all," drawing attention to a perceived disconnect between Sadeq's appearance and the family's described hardships.
@p_i_z_z_a_r_h_e_a questioned Sadeq's framing of events, writing:
"Why is he acting like this has been forced upon him?"
@emmadigerudwhite raised a pointed question about the documentary's scope:
"Were any of the women or children interviewed?"
@rodan.h wrote:
"My heart breaks for these kids and women."
@imperfectlynaturalmama:
"12 of his children died, 12! This is absolutely appalling."
Uganda’s mother of 44
In other news, Mariam Nabatanzi, a Ugandan mother, drew attention for raising 44 children largely on her own after their father reportedly abandoned the family.
She experienced multiple births, including twins and quadruplets, throughout her reproductive years.
Despite previously seeking ways to prevent further pregnancies, she said she remained open to having more children with a supportive partner.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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