Public outrage has erupted across the African country of Somalia after an eight-year-old girl, who had been missing for six months, was discovered living with a man who claimed to be her husband.
The case has reignited urgent discussions about child marriage and the country’s lack of legal protections for minors, the BBC reported.
The girl, who disappeared last September from her home in the semi-autonomous Puntland region, was found in the Carmo area last week.
Authorities intervened after it was revealed that Sheikh Mahmoud, an adult man, had married her with the consent of her father. Security forces raided Mahmoud’s home after he locked himself in a room with the child, eventually removing her and returning her to her family.
The incident has sparked protests in the capital, Mogadishu, and widespread condemnation on social media. Activists and human rights organizations have decried the situation, calling for urgent reforms.
Fadumo Ahmed, chairperson of the Somali Women Vision Organisation, expressed deep concern over the case.
“What’s more shocking than the tragedy itself are the allegations of abduction and the fact that her family had no knowledge of her whereabouts for months,” Ahmed told the BBC. “We trust the responsible institutions to take the right and necessary legal action.”
The girl’s uncle stated that she was taken from her home by a female relative under the pretense of visiting another family member. Months later, a video of the child reciting the Quran surfaced online, prompting her family to launch a search, which ultimately led them to Mahmoud’s home.
Mahmoud initially denied wrongdoing, claiming he was only teaching the girl the Quran. However, after legal complaints were filed, he changed his statement, saying he had married the child with her father’s approval.
When questioned by the BBC about how he justified marrying an eight-year-old, Mahmoud cited religious traditions, specifically those of the Shafi’i school of thought, which he claimed allowed child marriage. However, many Somali Islamic scholars and religious leaders have publicly opposed his stance.
Child Marriage Crisis in Somalia
The case has renewed scrutiny on Somalia’s laws regarding child protection. Somalia currently has no legally established minimum age for marriage, making child marriage a persistent issue in the country.
A 2020 report by the United Nations Population Fund and the Somali government found that 35% of Somali women aged 20 to 24 were married before they turned 18, a decline from 45% in 2017. Experts say poverty, insecurity, and deeply rooted traditional practices continue to fuel the prevalence of child marriage.
In an attempt to address the crisis, Somalia’s Ministry of Women and Human Rights submitted a draft child rights bill to parliament in 2023. However, the bill was sent back after lawmakers objected to certain provisions. There is currently no clear timeline for its reintroduction.
Following the latest incident, Puntland authorities have launched an investigation into the case. Human rights groups are calling for stronger legal protections to prevent further instances of child marriage and exploitation.
