There have been mixed emotions of sadness and anger when a disturbing video made global news this week. An 11-year old Yemeni girl, claiming she ran away from home to escape an arranged marriage has taken over You Tube, sharing with the world her broken heart. In the video, Nada al-Ahdal says things like, “Go ahead and marry me off – I’ll kill myself,” and “I’m done with you, you ruined my dreams.” The terrible part is that she’s referring to her mom and dad.
Child Bride Escapes and Shares Her Story on You Tube
According to sources, an older man (a Yemeni Expatriot who lives in Saudi Arabia) asked to marry Nada. Her parents accepted the proposal and Nada fought back by running away. When he heard the news, Nada’s uncle intervened – resulting in the engagement being called off. Nada was eventually permitted to go live with her uncle and shortly after, she posted this horrific video. In Yemen, the tradition of arranged marriage is still strong – and many international rights groups have sought ways to step in and help bring the practice to an end. The high numbers of poverty and tribal customs mean many girls marry before they even turn 15 – an astonishingly young age.
Have you seen this disturbing video? Can you believe arranged marriage continues to be a common practice in some countries?
