Yemeni girl, 8, gets divorce after forced marriage

[GaryC 7]

Yemeni girl, 8, gets divorce after forced marriage

Apr 15 02:54 PM US/Eastern

A Yemeni court on Tuesday granted a divorce to an eight-year-old girl whose unemployed father forced her into an arranged marriage this year, saying he feared she might be kidnapped.

"I am happy that I am divorced now. I will be able to go back to school," Nojud Mohammed Ali said, after a public hearing in Sanaa's court of first instance.

Her former husband, 28-year-old Faez Ali Thameur, said he married the child "with her consent and that of her parents" but that he did not object to her divorce petition.

In response to a question from Judge Mohammed al-Qadhi, he acknowledged that the "marriage was consummated, but I did not beat her."

Yemen, one of the world's poorest countries, has no law governing the minimum age of marriage.

Nojud was a second grader in primary school when the marriage took place two and a half months ago.

"They asked me to sign the marriage contract and remain in my father's house until I was 18. But a week after signing, my father and my mother forced me to go live with him."

Nojud's father, Mohammad Ali Al-Ahdal, said he had felt obliged to marry off his daughter, an act he claims she consented to.

He said he was frightened after his oldest daughter had been kidnapped several years ago and later married to her abductor. He said the same man then kidnapped another of his daughters who was already married and had four children, resulting in him being jailed.

Dressed in traditional black, Nojud said she would now go to live in the home of her maternal uncle and did not want to see her father.

The girl's lawyer, Shadha Nasser, said Nojud's case was not unique. "I believe there are thousands of similar cases," she said, adding that civil society groups are pressing parliament to set the minimum age for marriage at 18.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=08...;show_article=1

Edited April 17, 2008 by GaryC

[Jenn! 918]

That's terrible. What's wrong with some people?

What was the bit about kidnapping? that didn't make any sense.

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

####### :blink: :blink: :blink:

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

so sad

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

what's next on the agenda, fgm?

[sj5 4]

[djcess 0]

is it legal to marry 8 yrs old in other countries?? That's creepy.....

[William33 110]

Some people really sukc!!!

[Amby 490]

#######? good for the girl! insanity

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

is it legal to marry 8 yrs old in other countries?? That's creepy.....

yes, in many countries there is no minimum age to marry as long as the parents consent to the marriage

[SaadBell 0]

In response to a question from Judge Mohammed al-Qadhi, he acknowledged that the "marriage was consummated, but I did not beat her."

NASTY, can we all say -

[churipu 4]

Poor kid...I wonder at what "older" age she will be forced to marry again

[panamania79 2]

Yemeni girl, 8, gets divorce after forced marriage

Apr 15 02:54 PM US/Eastern

A Yemeni court on Tuesday granted a divorce to an eight-year-old girl whose unemployed father forced her into an arranged marriage this year, saying he feared she might be kidnapped.

"I am happy that I am divorced now. I will be able to go back to school," Nojud Mohammed Ali said, after a public hearing in Sanaa's court of first instance.

Her former husband, 28-year-old Faez Ali Thameur, said he married the child "with her consent and that of her parents" but that he did not object to her divorce petition.

In response to a question from Judge Mohammed al-Qadhi, he acknowledged that the "marriage was consummated, but I did not beat her."

Yemen, one of the world's poorest countries, has no law governing the minimum age of marriage.

Nojud was a second grader in primary school when the marriage took place two and a half months ago.

"They asked me to sign the marriage contract and remain in my father's house until I was 18. But a week after signing, my father and my mother forced me to go live with him."

Nojud's father, Mohammad Ali Al-Ahdal, said he had felt obliged to marry off his daughter, an act he claims she consented to.

He said he was frightened after his oldest daughter had been kidnapped several years ago and later married to her abductor. He said the same man then kidnapped another of his daughters who was already married and had four children, resulting in him being jailed.

Dressed in traditional black, Nojud said she would now go to live in the home of her maternal uncle and did not want to see her father.

The girl's lawyer, Shadha Nasser, said Nojud's case was not unique. "I believe there are thousands of similar cases," she said, adding that civil society groups are pressing parliament to set the minimum age for marriage at 18.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=08...;show_article=1

What's wrong with that psycho of a father ? He is NOT okay at all.

[almaty 19]

terrible ....just wrong

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Pretty f&cked up. I respect some culture's choices and beliefs about arranged marriages, but an 8 year old???? Just f#cked up.