According to the statement, the 8-year-old bride has reportedly died of internal injuries on her wedding after being forced to marry a man five times her age. Many called for the husband to be arrested in an effort to seek justice for the girl’s family. Activists also called for the practice of marrying young girls to be put to an end in the country.
In Yemen, there is a disturbing tradition in which young girls are married off to much older men. Per reports, nearly a quarter of the female population is married by the time they turn 15. The tradition is not without its consequences. Activists say that the 8-year-old Yemeni girl named Rawan has died from internal bleeding after having intercourse with her 40-year-old husband on their wedding night.
A blogger known as Angryman posted about the practice and also about the incident involving the 8-year-old bride. He referred to the husband as “an animal who deserved to be punished severely for his crime,” and added that “all those who supported such a crime should also be punished.”
Per reports, the local residents even tried to censor local journalists by urging them not to write about the story. Yemeni families sometimes marry their young daughters off as a way to save money. They no longer have to pay for the child’s food or childcare. We are republishing this story to raise awareness about child se-ual abuse. Per reports, 1 in 9 girls and 1 in 53 boys under the age of 18 experience se-ual abuse or assault from an adult.
