Somalia: A man weds an eight-year-old girl, claiming that Islamic teachings allow child marriage

Image: Jihad Watch

An eight-year-old girl from Somalia, missing for six months, has been found living with a man who claimed she was his wife.

The child disappeared from her home in the semi-autonomous Puntland region last September, leaving her family in deep distress.

Shockingly, it was later revealed that her own father had permitted her marriage to an adult man named Sheikh Mahmoud.

Last week, security forces raided Mahmoud’s home after he barricaded himself inside with the girl. The dramatic rescue has triggered a nationwide uproar, with social media ablaze and protests breaking out in Mogadishu.

Advocates have latched onto the case to demand immediate action to safeguard children, as Somalia still has no minimum legal age for marriage.

The disturbing ordeal started when a female relative removed the girl from her Bosaso home, claiming she was taking her to see an uncle.

Months later, a video surfaced online of the child reciting the Quran, prompting her family to begin searching for her.

Their efforts led them to Carmo, where they discovered she had been staying with Mahmoud.

At first, the man insisted he was only teaching her the Quran. But after legal complaints were lodged, he admitted to marrying her—with her father’s consent.

When pressed by the BBC about his appalling choice, Mahmoud justified it by citing religious customs, claiming Islamic teachings allowed child marriage.

A 2020 UN report revealed that 35 percent of Somali women aged 20 to 24 had been married before 18, down from a previous high of 45 percent in 2017.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)