An eight-year-old girl, reported missing for six months, was found living with a man who claimed she was his wife, leading to widespread outrage and calls for legal reform in Somalia.
Outrage Erupts in Somalia as Man Claims to Have Married Missing Eight-Year-Old Girl
Outrage Erupts in Somalia as Man Claims to Have Married Missing Eight-Year-Old Girl
A shocking case in Puntland has ignited protests and debates over child marriage laws in Somalia.
The incident unfolded in Puntland, Somalia, where social media and public demonstrations erupted following the discovery of a young girl, missing since September, with a man named Sheikh Mahmoud, who claimed to have married her.
The girl was initially reported missing by her family in the Puntland region. It later emerged that her own father consented to her marriage with the adult. Upon the girl’s recovery by security forces, widespread anger ensued, underscoring the lack of legal protections for children in marriage, as there's no established minimum marriage age in Somalia.
Fadumo Ahmed, chair of the Somali Women Vision Organisation, expressed her shock at the family's lack of knowledge about the girl’s whereabouts, calling for accountability from relevant authorities. Reports indicate that the child was taken by a female relative under the guise of visiting another family member.
Months later, a video surfaced showing the girl reciting the Quran, prompting her family to initiate a search for her. Eventually, they found her in Carmo, living with Sheikh Mahmoud, who initially insisted he was only teaching her the Quran. After facing legal action, he admitted he had married her with her father's approval, citing traditional Islamic practices as justification.
Despite pushback from many in the Somali religious community, Sheikh Mahmoud refused to dissolve the marriage. Following legal complaints, local authorities intervened, and the girl was reclaiming her family on March 25, with an ongoing investigation into the incident.
Child marriage is notably prevalent in Somalia, with 35% of women aged 20-24 reportedly married before they turned 18, a slight decrease from previous years. This issue, driven by poverty, insecurity, and cultural norms, continues to be the subject of proposed legislative changes, although efforts have faced challenges in parliament.
The Ministry of Women and Human Rights has been engaged in efforts to introduce a child rights bill, but progress remains stalled. The urgency in cases like this illustrates the broader necessity for reform in Somalia's legal framework regarding child marriage.
The girl was initially reported missing by her family in the Puntland region. It later emerged that her own father consented to her marriage with the adult. Upon the girl’s recovery by security forces, widespread anger ensued, underscoring the lack of legal protections for children in marriage, as there's no established minimum marriage age in Somalia.
Fadumo Ahmed, chair of the Somali Women Vision Organisation, expressed her shock at the family's lack of knowledge about the girl’s whereabouts, calling for accountability from relevant authorities. Reports indicate that the child was taken by a female relative under the guise of visiting another family member.
Months later, a video surfaced showing the girl reciting the Quran, prompting her family to initiate a search for her. Eventually, they found her in Carmo, living with Sheikh Mahmoud, who initially insisted he was only teaching her the Quran. After facing legal action, he admitted he had married her with her father's approval, citing traditional Islamic practices as justification.
Despite pushback from many in the Somali religious community, Sheikh Mahmoud refused to dissolve the marriage. Following legal complaints, local authorities intervened, and the girl was reclaiming her family on March 25, with an ongoing investigation into the incident.
Child marriage is notably prevalent in Somalia, with 35% of women aged 20-24 reportedly married before they turned 18, a slight decrease from previous years. This issue, driven by poverty, insecurity, and cultural norms, continues to be the subject of proposed legislative changes, although efforts have faced challenges in parliament.
The Ministry of Women and Human Rights has been engaged in efforts to introduce a child rights bill, but progress remains stalled. The urgency in cases like this illustrates the broader necessity for reform in Somalia's legal framework regarding child marriage.
