Martina Navratilova tears into "Catholic Church abuse" in light of 6-year-old Afghan girl being forced to marry old man

Martina Navratilova recently took a furious swipe at the Catholic Church's history of child abuse. Navratilova's take stemmed from an exchange that revolved around her shock at the recent news of a 6-year-old Afghan girl being forced into marriage with an old man.

In 2021, the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan once more, with the radical group's previous reign spanning the late 1990s and early 2000s having been marred by countless instances of gross human rights and women's rights violations. However, three years ago, the Taliban's stance seemed to be more progressive.

Things though, haven't worked out that way. The group has brought in several controversial laws, which have resulted in a stringent stifling of women's rights yet again. Recently, the shocking news of the forced marriage of a 6-year-old Afghani girl with an old man surfaced, and Martina Navratilova, one of the biggest women's rights advocates in the tennis world, condemned it via a post on X (formerly Twitter).

"Monsters, all of them who allow this," Martina Navratilova wrote.

Later, an X user identifying as 'Sister Barbara Rheen' replied to Navratilova's post, writing:

"Dear god, you’re stepping up About time Martina"

The former World No. 1 and 18-time Major winner wasn't impressed with this response and went on to tear into the Catholic Church for its controversial history of child abuse.

"I have been here for years. How about you clean up the Catholic Church abuse first?" Navratilova replied.

A few days ago, Navratilova had voiced her opposition to the Taliban barring women from pursuing medical education in Afghanistan.

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"Evil" - Martina Navratilova's gloomy reaction to Taliban's regressive move of banning women's medical education

Martina Navratilova (Source: Getty)

On December 2 this year, the Taliban closed off women's access to medical education throughout Afghanistan in another damning blow to women's rights in the country. The radical group had previously prohibited women from seeking treatment for medical conditions from male doctors.

Appalled at the development, Martina Navratilova took to X and wrote:

"The Taliban are evil. All men. All evil."

However, the Czech-American tennis legend's take did not go down well with some, who perceived it as Navratilova throwing shade at all men, regardless of whether they are affiliated with the Taliban. Navratilova though, clarified her position later on, writing:

"For those who have any doubts- am talking about all Taliban men being evil. Not all men are evil- thought that was clear and hope it is now…"

In late 2022, Navratilova suggested that the growing trend of abuse towards women worldwide reflected "patriarchy on steroids".