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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.
more of this story go to http://www.yementimes.com/article.shtml?i=1145&p=front&a=2
This is sick and should be looked at by some international body. Parents can make a contract of marriage even if the child is under 15 although the Civil Yemeni law says no child below 15 can get married. Nojoud went to court by herself which is already an achievement in a country like Yemen. Good for her and I hope, though this is not the first case, it sets precedence over those who are in the same situation!
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