Outrage in somalia after 8-year-old “married” to adult man
Public fury has erupted in Somalia after an eight-year-old girl, missing for six months, was found living with a man claiming to be her husband. The girl disappeared last September in Puntland, with her family alleging she was taken by a female relative under false pretenses.
Authorities intervened after a video surfaced showing the girl reciting the Quran in the home of Sheikh Mahmoud, who first claimed to be her teacher before admitting to marrying her with her father’s consent.
The case has ignited protests in Mogadishu and renewed calls for child protection laws, as Somalia has no legal minimum marriage age.
Puntland police rescued the girl on March 25 following a family complaint. She has since been returned home, and an investigation is underway.
Child marriage remains widespread in Somalia, driven by poverty and tradition. A 2020 UN report found 35% of women aged 20–24 were married before 18.
A proposed child rights bill was rejected by parliament in 2023 but may be revised. Activists demand urgent legal reforms to prevent such cases.
