NewsLab

Nojud’s story is not unique in Yemen. Her parents have forced her into an arranged marriage, with a man, 20 years older than her. 8-year old Nojud was a second grader in primary school when the marriage took place two and a half months ago.

“They asked me to sign the marriage contract and remain in my father’s house until I was 18. But a week after signing, my father and my mother forced me to go live with him.”

Nojud’s unemployed father said he had felt obliged to marry off his daughter. The girl’s lawyer said the minor had filed a suit in April asking for divorce. She told the court that her husband had been physically abusing her and forcing her to have “sex with him after hitting her”.

The court ordered the marriage terminated because he had not reach puberty but also decided….. the child’s family to pay about $250 in compensation to the 28-year-old ex-husband.

“I am happy that I am divorced now. I will be able to go back to school,” Nojud said.

Yemen, one of the world’s poorest countries, has no law governing the minimum age of marriage.

(Source Reuters, AP)