2 children beheaded by militants, Afghan authorities say

[happyslug]

33. Wikipedia is a good start on any research, but you have to be careful with it.

The Wikipedia site had itself three citations. The Second pointed out the preferred age as 12-13 year old boys (as it is in the US among men who like young boys)

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/124334-frontline-the-dancing-boys-of-afghanistan/

The first citation, mention such boys are released when they turn 19, but does not address if that is all, most or the latest such boys can be kept. I suspect the later, i.e, most are released while before they turn 19 for it is no longer profitable to keep them.

The third article mention that the boys often run away, this becomes easier as their grow older and less profitable (and thus not worth chasing after). Thus most probably do not wait till their turn 19 (and in fact the 19 age may be just the age by when most such boys have run away or otherwise left the home of their owners).

Sorry, seems to match up with the facts in the Catholic Church Scandals and general rule as to this type of sexual abuse, the prime age is 12-13.