Malaysia: 41-year-old man with 2 women marries 11-year-old girl (photos)
The marriage between a 41-year-old man and an 11-year-old kid caused an uproar in the country and sparked international outrage.
The photos of the girl with her new husband, Che Abdul Karim, became viral on social networks have sowed consternation in the Muslim majority country.
The wedding took place last month in southern Thailand. “Our representatives met the girl’s mother. We are waiting for more information before deciding what to do next,” said Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail quoted by SundayStar.
According to local media, the husband already has two wives and six children aged 5 to 18 years. The girl’s parents living in abject poverty would have accepted the marriage on the condition that she live with them until the age of 16.
The groom, a successful merchant is disappointed by the criticism of him.
“I was disappointed by the various criticisms and allegations against me on social networks after I took her for my third wife,” he told BorneoPost.
UNICEF Representative in Malaysia Marianne Clark-Hattingh publicly rejected this despicable marriage.
“It’s shocking and unacceptable and it’s not in the best interest of the child. It is a violation of her rights.”
Under Malaysian law, girls under the age of 16 are allowed to marry provided that a religious court has approved. But the Minister of Women and Families said he had no record of any religious authorization.
An investigation has already been opened.
