8 Year Old Girl Gets Divorce in Yemen

[freedom78]

Girl, 8, granted divorce in Yemen

 SAN'A, Yemen (AP) -- A Yemeni judge dissolved the marriage of an 8-year-old girl to a man nearly four times her age, and the girl's lawyer said Wednesday that the court also ordered the youngster removed from the control of the father who forced her into the wedding.

The lawyer, Shatha Ali Nasser, said the girl is just one of thousands of underaged girls who have been forced into marriages in this poor tribal country at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula.

The girl's story has drawn headlines in Yemen because she took the unusual step of seeking out a judge on her own to file for divorce.

She recounted her ordeal to reporters Wednesday, a day after the judge in San'a ended the two-month marriage. Judge Mohammed al-Qady said he had been moved by the girl's plight from the start.

The girl said her father forced her to marry a 30-year-old man she identified as Faiz Ali Thamer. She charged that her husband constantly beat her and forced her to have sex.

"I used to run from room to room to escape from him. But he would catch up with me," the girl said, her tiny frame swallowed in an oversized robe and head scarf, standing with her lawyer.

In issuing his ruling Tuesday, the judge said he was terminating the marriage because the girl "had not reached puberty."

A provision in Yemeni law allows parents to sign marriage contracts for children younger than 15. However, the article states that a husband can only consummate the marriage when the wife reaches puberty.

"We know that this is not what happened" in the girl's case, her lawyer said.

There are no provisions for any punishment for a husband in such cases.

The girl's name isn't disclosed in line with Associated Press policy on sexually related cases.

She said that when she told her parents of the abuse, they refused to help her. Her parents testified they ignored her complaints about the marriage.

The girl's family was ordered to pay $250 as "compensation" to Thamer, although the judge did not specify the reason.

[crazycheryl]

Oh my god. And we are worried about polygamists here? Thank god the 8 year old had more sense than her father or husband. And why dear god would the father allow this at 8? It's like giving a child molester free reign over your daughter. She can't have babies yet so what is the purpose of having sex except to have sex with a young girl. I think the father and husband should have been arrested. Creeps!

Unfortunately her father will probably try to arrange another marriage. Hopefully this poor girl can get away. She had more sense than the two adults combined.

[Axl_owns_dexter87]

Oh my god. And we are worried about polygamists here? Thank god the 8 year old had more sense than her father or husband. And why dear god would the father allow this at 8? It's like giving a child molester free reign over your daughter. She can't have babies yet so what is the purpose of having sex except to have sex with a young girl. I think the father and husband should have been arrested. Creeps!

Unfortunately her father will probably try to arrange another marriage. Hopefully this poor girl can get away. She had more sense than the two adults combined.

For me, there is no point in trying to rationalize the actions of some people, they are just that far from reality.

[fuckin crazy]

I heard about that a couple of weeks ago. Thank goodness it was granted. Now if only something could be done for the untold masses suffering the same fate throughout SW Asia.

[CheapJon]

She's only 8, i don't think she should be allowed to get a divorce until she's at least 16

[The Dog]

I heard about that a couple of weeks ago. Thank goodness it was granted. Now if only something could be done for the untold masses suffering the same fate throughout SW Asia.

yeah, its really disgusting.

[Genesis]

Oh my god. And we are worried about polygamists here? Thank god the 8 year old had more sense than her father or husband. And why dear god would the father allow this at 8? It's like giving a child molester free reign over your daughter. She can't have babies yet so what is the purpose of having sex except to have sex with a young girl. I think the father and husband should have been arrested. Creeps!

Unfortunately her father will probably try to arrange another marriage. Hopefully this poor girl can get away. She had more sense than the two adults combined.

To put things in perspective and not to condone child marriage or anything, Yemen is one of the poorest nations in the world where a majority of the population are uneducated and stuck with customs that existed decades ago. Something like this wouldn't surprise me.

However, news of what has been happening in that Texas ranch is beyond reproach. 50 year old men marrying 16 yr olds? A 16 yr old who has given birth twice before? WTF? We are talking about educated people here ...

Next time you read an article like this, remove your rose tinted glasses.

[lynn1961]

Whether we agree or disagree or think it's right or not, I think we have to remember that sometimes peoples' actions are based on age old beliefs that they've adhered to and believe are right.  Obviously, this case with the little girl was beyond what was allowed by their culture, and very sad that she should have been subjected to that.  I give her a lot of credit for being able to come forward and find a way out.  I'm not so sure I'd have had the same tenacity or knowledge, when I was that age.       

[fuckin crazy]

We are talking about educated people here ...

Educated at home by a bunch of bible thumpers. In reality they are an ignorant cult, but I guess that could be applied to all religious fanatics.

[Jessica]

in france, and in england, to this day, there are still african and arabic girls sent " home" for arranged marriages.

Girls as young as 11.

[fuckin crazy]

^ ... and mutilated

[CheapJon]

in france, and in england, to this day, there are still african and arabic girls sent " home" for arranged marriages.

Girls as young as 11.

you really think that shit only happens in france and england?

[Jessica]

No..

anywhere...

All i'm pointing out at is that once these people have got an education, they still send their flesh and blood to arranged marriages ( excised i agree) to their home countries, mainly for money.

Education doesn't change greed.

[crazycheryl]

Oh my god. And we are worried about polygamists here? Thank god the 8 year old had more sense than her father or husband. And why dear god would the father allow this at 8? It's like giving a child molester free reign over your daughter. She can't have babies yet so what is the purpose of having sex except to have sex with a young girl. I think the father and husband should have been arrested. Creeps!

Unfortunately her father will probably try to arrange another marriage. Hopefully this poor girl can get away. She had more sense than the two adults combined.

To put things in perspective and not to condone child marriage or anything, Yemen is one of the poorest nations in the world where a majority of the population are uneducated and stuck with customs that existed decades ago. Something like this wouldn't surprise me.

However, news of what has been happening in that Texas ranch is beyond reproach. 50 year old men marrying 16 yr olds? A 16 yr old who has given birth twice before? WTF? We are talking about educated people here ...

Next time you read an article like this, remove your rose tinted glasses.

My glasses are anything but tinted rose brother. I realize the reason the father arranged the marriage was probably to get some money because they are so poor. But unlike the polygamist cults here, which people freely choose to join or be brainwashed into staying when obviously common sense would tell them their way of living is just not right, that girl will probably never get a chance to get out of poverty and be sold to another man. And the polygamist women are not educated people - the men don't allow television, phone or any connection with the outside world so how would they know things? They are taught what they need to know to stay in the combine forever - boys are taught farming and that they can have any girl they like - girls are taught how to take care of the men and children and that's it. But at least we have officials in this country, right or wrong, who are keeping an eye on things and people can actually go to the authorities and complain - that's how this current group was taken down - one of the people from inside went to the police with accusations of abuse plus they were looking for the head guy anyway because of his association with the Jeff's guy.

The girl in Yemen only was granted the divorce because she is not capable of having babies yet. If she was baby making age, do you really think they would have granted the divorce? Arranged marriage is their way of life.

And culture trumps knowledge every day. I know people that are extremely intelligent but tell me they need to go back to their native country to get married. I'm like what, why don't you just find someone you love - they always reply it is a tradition seated in their culture and going against the culture would probably have their families disown them and they would be committing a big sin. Why do you think cultures are still fighting over religion in this age? Are they all stupid?

[Jessica]

Why do you think cultures are still fighting over religion in this age? Are they all stupid?

Tradition doesn't mix blood.

Actually, it is not stupid, although uneducated, because " pure" genes lead to defects.

But they go back home to find someone whose genes are similar in order to breed.

Everyone has done it for thousands of years, some still do, like you don't find many mixed race marriages, even nowadays.

It has onoy to do with money on one side and genes on the other.

[fuckin crazy]

Why do you think cultures are still fighting over religion in this age? Are they all stupid?

Tradition doesn't mix blood.

Actually, it is not stupid, although uneducated, because " pure" genes lead to defects.

But they go back home to find someone whose genes are similar in order to breed.

Everyone has done it for thousands of years, some still do, like you don't find many mixed race marriages, even nowadays.

It has onoy to do with money on one side and genes on the other.

Actually, inbreeding produces just as many positive attributes as negative.

[polluxlm]

Actually, inbreeding produces just as many positive attributes as negative.

Care to go into specifics? Always wondered why royalty do this (apart from the immediate reasons).

[judaskennedy]

is she hot?

[fuckin crazy]

is she hot?

As much as the next 8 year old. Fucking perv. I hope they don't cut off your dick ... just kidding.

[judaskennedy]

whos they?