A wave of anger has swept through Somalia following the discovery of an eight-year-old girl, missing for six months, living with a man who claims to be her husband. Her plight has sparked widespread protests in Mogadishu and heightened discussions around child protection laws.
Outrage in Somalia Over Eight-Year-Old's Forced Marriage to Adult Man
Outrage in Somalia Over Eight-Year-Old's Forced Marriage to Adult Man
Public protests erupt in Mogadishu after a missing child is found living with a self-declared husband, igniting debates about child marriage laws.
The girl, who initially went missing in the Puntland region last September, was reportedly taken by a female relative under the pretense of visiting another family member. After surfacing in a video reciting the Quran, her family launched a search and discovered she was in the custody of Sheikh Mahmoud. Initially claiming he was only teaching her Quran, Sheikh Mahmoud later asserted that he had married the girl with consent from her father.
The case drew significant attention on social media, prompting outrage over the alleged abduction and the family's lack of awareness regarding the child's situation for months. “What’s more shocking is the family’s ignorance of her whereabouts,” stated Fadumo Ahmed from the Somali Women Vision Organisation, emphasizing the need for legal action.
In response to the public outcry, Puntland's police intervened, removing the girl from the man's residence. She has since been reunited with her family. An official investigation is underway, focusing on the legality of her marriage and the traditions that allow child marriage under Islam.
Child marriage remains a widespread issue in Somalia, with a 2020 report revealing that 35% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18. Efforts to address the problem have stumbled, as seen with a recently proposed draft child rights bill that was rejected by parliament due to objections on specific provisions.
As calls for reform continue, the focus now shifts to ensuring that the issue of child marriage is effectively addressed to safeguard the rights of children in Somalia.
The case drew significant attention on social media, prompting outrage over the alleged abduction and the family's lack of awareness regarding the child's situation for months. “What’s more shocking is the family’s ignorance of her whereabouts,” stated Fadumo Ahmed from the Somali Women Vision Organisation, emphasizing the need for legal action.
In response to the public outcry, Puntland's police intervened, removing the girl from the man's residence. She has since been reunited with her family. An official investigation is underway, focusing on the legality of her marriage and the traditions that allow child marriage under Islam.
Child marriage remains a widespread issue in Somalia, with a 2020 report revealing that 35% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18. Efforts to address the problem have stumbled, as seen with a recently proposed draft child rights bill that was rejected by parliament due to objections on specific provisions.
As calls for reform continue, the focus now shifts to ensuring that the issue of child marriage is effectively addressed to safeguard the rights of children in Somalia.
