Ауылдық жерлердегі әйел алмасу дәстүрі: Ватта сатта және шиғар

Form of exchange marriage prevalent in Afghanistan and Pakistan
Watta satta or shighar is an exchange marriage common in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The custom involves the simultaneous marriage of a brother sister pair from two households. In some cases, it involves uncle–niece pairs, or cousin pairs. Watta satta is more than just an exchange of women from two families or clans; it establishes the shadow of mutual threat across the marriages. A husband who abuses his wife in this arrangement can expect his brother in law to retaliate in kind against his sister. Watta satta is cited as a cause of both low domestic violence in some families, and conversely for extreme levels of reciprocal domestic violence in others. In Pakistan it is typically endogamous, with over 75% marriages involving blood relatives, and 90% of these marriages occurring within the same village, tribe or clan (zaat, biraderi). In rural parts of Pakistan, watta satta accounts for over 30% of all marriages.

The rationale for watta satta custom has been theorized as an environment with generally low and uncertain incomes, weak or uncertain legal institutions of the state, watta satta may be the most effective means available to the poor to prevent marital discord, divorces and domestic abuse. Bride exchange between two families is also seen as an informal way to limit demands and consequences of dower (brideprice) and dowry disputes.

In rural parts of northwest and west Pakistan, and its tribal regions, Watta Satta accounts for over 30% of all marriages. The custom of bartering brides is also observed in Muslim agrarian societies of Afghanistan. In Islamic communities of Mali, bride exchange between two families has also been observed. It is locally called falen ni falen. The practice is prevalent in rural parts of Yemen as well.

Shighar is the practice of exchanging brides between two families, where the girl and dowry of one family is exchanged for a girl and dowry from another family. This is prevalent in Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries. This practice is often a means to reduce or evade dowry, and as such is prohibited in Islam, although it is prevalent in Saudi Arabia. Muhammad is reported in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim to have said "There is no Shighar in Islam."