8-Year-Old Yemeni Bride Mystery Raises Concern For Banning Of Child Marriage
The story of the Rawan, the 8-year-old Yemeni Bride who allegedly died due to severe sexual injuries during wedding night emerged recently to be untrue. But this happened right after the horrific story shocked the entire world online and triggered everyone to be filled with rage against the issues of child marriage.
CNN reports that there have been conflicting stories between the local residents and the government authorities who have denied the alleged death of the child bride. But despite it all, it is the issue of child marriage that everyone should have a solution on, according to the human rights minister of Yemen, Hooria Mashhour.
"The efforts need to continue until a law is passed to end this practice," she added.
As for Mosleh Ezzi, the head of prosecution in Haradh where the incident of the child bride Rawan allegedly transpired, the entire story was just made up. The prosecution head further reported to CNN that there were medical exams that served as proof of Rawan's virginity, showing that she was never married.
Numerous Yemenis were scared when the news came out that Rawan died on the night of her alleged marriage with a 40-year-old man due to sex-related injuries. At present, outrage from international groups and campaigns grew all the more due to the fact that child marriage is still considered a legal practice within Yemen.
Ms Mashhour, on the other hand, thought that this could be the best time to act on the growing issue and finally implement a law to finally put an end to it.
The Daily Beast site mentioned an ideal message of an independent writer by the name of Sama'a Al-Hamdani about the issue, whether or not the case of Rawan is true. "If you make a law it will not stop a tradition - especially in Yemen, where the police are basically nonexistent in some parts of the country. You don't have the luxury to be a teenager in Yemen: you are a child, and then you are an adult," the Yemeni analyst remarked.
Al Hamdani further spoke that what the government needs to do is to set goals that are realistic and render financial rewards for families in Yemen to put a stop to the reason of marrying their daughters off to older men.