YEMEN: Outrage over death of 12-year-old child bride aimed at government [Updated]

Mounting outrage following the death of 12-year-old Fawziya Abdullah Youssef, who died giving birth to her stillborn child, is renewing pressure on Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to ratify a law passed in parliament that would make 17 the minimum marriage age.

Youssef died on arrival at a rural hospital in Yemen's Al Hodeida province after several days of difficult labor, according to the Yemeni child rights association Seyaj.

Youssef, the oldest of four children, was just 11 when her ailing father pulled her out of school and married her to a man twice her age, 25-year-old Youssef Ghrad, Seyaj director Ahmed Qorashi told The Times.

Qorashi said early marriages are not uncommon in poor families such as the Youssefs, who probably did not think they were doing anything wrong. The family's poverty may also explain why the girl was not taken sooner to the hospital, which was 10 miles from where she lived.

[Updated, 12:30 p.m., The Yemeni embassy in Washington sent an email lamenting Fawiziya's death.

"We were profoundly saddened to hear the news of the death of the young Yemeni girl, Fawziya Abdullah Yousef (age 12)," said the email by Mohammed Albasha, spokesman for the Embassy. 

He said President Ali Abdullah Saleh tried to amend the marriage law to raise the minimum age to 17 but was thwarted by conservative lawmakers.  But he vowed that the government would soon pass legislation to raise the marriage age. 

"It is deemed an important priority of the government," he wrote.] 

The issue of child brides became a national debate last year when then-10-year-old Nujood Ali defied convention by demanding a divorce from her husband, who was in his 30s. As a result, legislation was introduced to set a minimum age for marriage, but the president has yet to ratify it.

"This is a real tragedy in which the government is the top responsible party," Shadha Nasser, the lawyer represented Nujood during her divorce, told the AFP news agency after Youssef's death.

Qorashi said the president is being pressured by conservative politicians not to ratify the law.

"If it does pass, it will be a huge victory for organizations like ours," he said.

Abdul Rahman Rafaee, the head of the municipal council in Youssef's home district, said in a telephone interview that early marriages are prevalent in his area, where only about a third of girls attend school. 

Rafaee said he and other local authorities have been trying to spread awareness about the dangers faced by young brides, and have succeeded over the last few years in stopping several marriages between girls and men.

-- Meris Lutz in Beirut

Photo: Poverty, especially in rural areas, can leave girls vulnerable to early arranged marriages. Credit: Khaled Fazaa / AFP

Comments

[Anita Chowdhary]

I am so saddened after reading what this poor child has been through in her short life. All I can say to her parents is if you are so poor and cannot afford to raise a child with the love, dignity and support she deserves, then perhaps you and others like you should not procreate in the first place!

[CZ]

Im interested in what type of pressure the conservatives could possibly be putting on President Saleh. This seems that it is not a political debate but rather a matter of morality. I understand that this may be more common than we think, even possibly a custom; and as an American it is hard to grasp the concept of such extreme poverty that we sell our own daughters. The fact is that the majority of underaged girls (U-18) are not well equipped for motherhood. This is not only because they haven't reached the age for sexual maturity, but also in poorer nations it becomes much harder for a mother to survive childbirth. There are many factors such as malnutrition and obviously sub-par healthcare. Also..if anyone knows what the rape laws consit of in Yemen I would like to read that. Under U.S. laws we do not allow underaged girls (even if they consent) to have sexual intercourse. Not that we can truly prevent it, but we do not support it and those that violate by having sex with minors are guilty of statutory rape. If anyone has an information on any of these points I would like to read what you have to say.

[fatima-ezzahra]

I was flabbergasted when I saw the headline, I mean a 12-year old child carrying another child is almost nonviable to surmise! It is even more horrendous that she died! It is not suprising that she bit the big one of birth because she is still a child, and pardon my language, her vagina is not substantial enough to let a baby pass through! Even if the family were or is indigent, they should not sacrifice their baby to a low-life man! Fawziya is a child with Allah, and those who caused her this pain and demise will aquire misery for eternity from God (not meaning her baby). Two lives were lost, Fawziya and her baby, who are in heaven with Allah. Fawziya is an abassador to child brides, and God willing, these acts of underage marriage will be brought forward.

[Dawn Alleyne]

This is an abomination. During the month of Ramadan, these two innocent lives are relieved of their suffering. May Allah (swt) forever keep them safe and close to him always. What is wrong with the world today?? Is there no one out there that is able to put an end to the atrocities that plagues the innocent?? Shame on all who let this happen to a 12 year old child.

[A.Joy]

have oprah get involved. She seems to be the only one with any clout anymore.

[Yada Mouse]

Maybe 13 year olds ought to be allowed to participate. Some of them are smarter than countries with a rapist running it. What will the law do if families decide to ignore it? All involved in this child's death need to go on trial for rape and murder. The only reason why the law will not be ratified is because if this offense is punishable by imprisonment, they'll have to build several prisons. It's just better to let the little head do the thinking for the big head. Their version of God's laws seem to center around their testicles.

[Jamal Nassar]

Where in the world this can happen?

I am from Yemen and this is just evidence to what extent the legal foundation is absent in Yemen and most importantly a life conscious, what kind of father would this to his own child!!!

This is truly sad and can only happen in the most miserable circumenstance one can ever expect.

Besides a corrupt government that has been sleeping for over 30 years, Yemen needs new government, and a new leader who can lead and change things...

[Carol]

As long as half the population--girls and women--of far too many countries are oppressed, those countries will never move forward economically.

[Village Idiot]

Can someone say Pedophilia.....

[ali mohammed ahmed]

I think their should be a legal age in yemen for girls to get
to married, i think the age should be at least 16 and over.
what i just read is sick,