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Widespread outrage has erupted in Somalia after an eight-year-old girl, missing for half a year, was discovered living with a man identifying himself as her husband. This disturbing case has brought renewed focus on the prevalence of child marriage in Somalia and the urgent need for robust child protection laws.
Public Anger and Demands for Justice
The young girl’s disappearance was initially reported by her family in Puntland, a semi-autonomous region, last September. Months later, it came to light that the girl’s father had allegedly consented to her marriage to an adult male, identified as Sheikh Mahmoud. Last week, security forces intervened at Sheikh Mahmoud’s residence, forcibly entering after he barricaded himself in a room with the child.
This incident has ignited public fury, manifesting in social media condemnation and public demonstrations in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital city. The case has reignited critical conversations surrounding child protection legislation, particularly the existing legal vacuum regarding a minimum age for marriage.
Calls for Legal Action and Child Protection
“The allegations of abduction and the prolonged period of the family’s unawareness of her location are even more shocking than the tragedy itself,” stated Fadumo Ahmed, head of the Somali Women Vision Organisation, a prominent rights advocacy group, in an interview with the BBC.
“We are confident that relevant institutions will undertake appropriate and necessary legal steps.”
Conflicting Accounts of the Girl’s Whereabouts
According to the girl’s uncle, a female relative removed her from her Bosaso home last September, purportedly to visit another uncle. However, several months elapsed, and a video surfaced online showing the girl reciting the Quran.
Subsequently, the family initiated a search for the child. It remains unclear why the search was not launched sooner. Their investigation led them to the Carmo area, where they found her living with Sheikh Mahmoud.
Sheikh Mahmoud’s Justifications and Legal Intervention
Initially, Sheikh Mahmoud claimed his relationship was solely for Quranic instruction. However, following formal legal complaints, he revised his statement, asserting he had married the girl with her father’s approval.
In response to BBC inquiries about the ethics of marrying an eight-year-old, Sheikh Mahmoud cited traditions of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad and the Shafi’i school of Islamic jurisprudence as permitting child marriage.
Despite counter-arguments from the BBC, referencing opposition from numerous Somali Islamic scholars, Sheikh Mahmoud insisted on maintaining the marital union.
On March 25th, Puntland’s police and human rights bodies intervened, removing the girl from Sheikh Mahmoud’s custody following a formal complaint from her family.
Girl Returned to Family, Investigation Underway
Puntland’s police force confirmed to the BBC that the girl has been returned to her family. Government officials have also announced the launch of a formal inquiry into the case.
The Wider Issue of Child Marriage in Somalia
Child marriage remains a significant problem across Somalia. A 2020 report by the United Nations Population Fund and the Somali government indicated that 35% of women aged 20-24 were married before their 18th birthday. This represents a decrease from 45% in 2017.
Factors Contributing to Child Marriage
Multiple factors contribute to the continued prevalence of child marriage. These include:
- Poverty
- Insecurity
- Traditional customs that often prioritize familial arrangements over a girl’s age and well-being.
Efforts to Combat Child Marriage
In 2023, Somalia’s Ministry of Women and Human Rights introduced a draft child rights bill to parliament, aiming to address this issue. However, the proposal faced objections from Members of Parliament concerning certain provisions and was returned for revision.
Reintroduction of the bill is anticipated, although a clear timeline remains undefined. Efforts to strengthen child protection and eliminate child marriage in Somalia are ongoing and face significant challenges.