SANA’A, April 9 - An eight-year-old girl decided last week to go the Sana’a West Court to prosecute her father, who forced her to marry a 30-year-old man. Posted on 04/11/2008 10:07:28 AM PDT by LibWhacker
Nojoud Muhammed Nasser YT Photo by Hamed Thabet SANA’A, April 9 - An eight-year-old girl decided last week to go the Sana’a West Court to prosecute her father, who forced her to marry a 30-year-old man.
Nojoud Muhammed Nasser arrived at court by herself on Wednesday, April 2, looking for a judge to handle her case against her father, Muhammed Nasser, who forced her two months ago to marry Faez Ali Thamer, a man 22 years her senior. The child also asked for a divorce, accusing her husband of sexual and domestic abuse.
According to Yemeni law, Nojoud cannot prosecute, as she is underage. However, court judge Muhammed Al-Qathi heard her complaint and subsequently ordered the arrests of both her father and husband.
“My father beat me and told me that I must marry this man, and if I did not, I would be raped and no law and no sheikh in this country would help me. I refused but I couldn’t stop the marriage,” Nojoud Nasser told the Yemen Times. “I asked and begged my mother, father, and aunt to help me to get divorced. They answered, ‘We can do nothing. If you want you can go to court by yourself.’ So this is what I have done,” she said.
Nasser said that she was exposed to sexual abuse and domestic violence by her husband. “He used to do bad things to me, and I had no idea as to what a marriage is. I would run from one room to another in order to escape, but in the end he would catch me and beat me and then continued to do what he wanted. I cried so much but no one listened to me. One day I ran away from him and came to the court and talked to them.”
“Whenever I wanted to play in the yard he beat me and asked me to go to the bedroom with him. This lasted for two months," added Nasser. "He was too tough with me, and whenever I asked him for mercy, he beat me and slapped me and then used me. I just want to have a respectful life and divorce him.”
Nasser’s uncle, who does not want to reveal his name, is following the case now as her guardian. According to her uncle, after Muhammed Nasser, the girl's father, lost his job as a garbage truck driver in Hajjah, he became a beggar, and soon after suffered from mental problems.
Thamer is in jail now. “Yes I was intimate with her, but I have done nothing wrong, as she is my wife and I have the right and no one can stop me," he said. "But if t The husband YT Photo by Hamed Thabet he judge or other people insist that I divorce her, I will do it, it’s ok.”
So far, no accusations have been made against her father, who was later released due to health problems, or Nasser's husband, who will remain in jail for further investigation.
“So far there is no case and no charges, as Nojoud arrived by herself to court asking just for a divorce,“ said Shatha Ali Nasser, a lawyer in the Supreme Court who is following Nojoud Nasser’s story.
Shatha Ali Nasser confirmed that item number 15 in Yemeni civil law reads that “no girl or boy can get married before the age of 15." However, this item was amended in 1998 so parents could make a contract of marriage between their children even if they are under the age of 15. But the husband cannot be intimate with her until she is ready or mature,” said Nasser.“This law is highly dangerous because it brings an end to a young girl’s happiness and future fruitful life. Nojoud did not get married, but she was raped by a 30-year old man.”
Nasser confirmed that Nojoud Nasser’s case is not the first of its kind in Yemen, but it is the first time that a girl went to court by herself to ask for a divorce.
“We are not planning to return Nojoud to her family. Who knows? Maybe after a few years the same thing will happen to her again," said Shatha Ali Nasser. "We are planning to put her in Dar Al-Rahama [an non-governmental organization that works with children], where she can have a better life and education. We do not want her family to pay her expenses, as they are poor.”
Pedophile, you mean.
Savages...
I’d like to retort to this with all kinds of smart remarks and quips about how the prophet Mohammed would have approved and all that....
But this is truly sickening.
She’s a very brave little girl. May God surround her and those in similar situations with His love and protection.
What a kid! It sounds like the judicial system is responding to her. I hope that she gets her divorce and is not permanently scarred by this. Poor child—she didn’t know what marriage meant. What a way to learn.
What horror. What a beautiful little girl, what strength of character, dignity, intelligence and poise. The adults around her are the antithesis of her admirable qualities.
Sick.
Mohammed (pig balls be upon him) had a 9-year old child bride...
Amen and Amen.
In the US, how many abused children of this age actually go to the authorities to turn in their abuser?
According to Islamic law, she must wait until she reached puberty to ask for a divorce. And I think it is about the only time a woman is permitted to seek a divorce (married real young). Husband has “full rights” to his bride, after all, they follow Mohammed’s example.
What an awesome girl she is, what brave spirit. I will pray for her. She lives among beasts. (And that’s an insult to animals...sorry.)
He had a 6 year old bride. He waited a couple of years to consumate the marriage.
“Mohammed (pig balls be upon him) had a 9-year old child bride..”
I disagree..... he married her when she was 6. He waited until she was 9 to consummate the marriage.
Oh and pig feces upon him would be better.
That wasn’t marriage.
Poor little girl...just wanted to take her out of that vile ignorance and give her a childhood.
She is a brave little soul. Prayers for her.
Religion of peace......
Every story like this gives us an up close and personal glimpse into the 7th Century...
Unholyh crap. These people, that civilization, are filth.
Mohammed (pig balls be upon him)
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