A wave of public anger has erupted in Somalia after an eight-year-old girl, who had been missing for six months, was found living with a man who insists he is her husband.
The child, whose family reported her disappearance in September from the semi-autonomous Puntland region, was eventually discovered in the Carmo area. The man, identified as Sheikh Mahmoud, initially claimed he was only teaching the girl the Quran. However, after legal action was taken, he later asserted that he had lawfully married her with her father’s consent.
Security forces intervened last week, surrounding Mahmoud’s house after he locked himself in a room with the girl. They forcibly entered and rescued the child, who has since been returned to her family. Authorities have launched an investigation into the disturbing case.
The case has ignited protests in Mogadishu and sparked fresh debates on Somalia’s child protection laws, as there is currently no minimum legal age for marriage.
“What’s more shocking than the tragedy itself is the fact that her family had no idea where she was for months,” said Fadumo Ahmed, chairperson of the Somali Women Vision Organisation. “We expect the responsible institutions to take immediate legal action.”
According to the girl’s uncle, she was taken from her home in Bosaso by a female relative under the pretense of visiting another family member. Months later, a video surfaced online showing her reciting the Quran, prompting the family to intensify their search. This led them to Mahmoud, who refused to relinquish the girl even after facing legal complaints.
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When questioned by the BBC, Mahmoud defended his actions, claiming that Islamic traditions, specifically the Shafi’i school of thought, permit child marriage. However, many Somali Islamic scholars strongly oppose this view. Despite the backlash, Mahmoud remained adamant, saying he would not “abandon the marriage.”
Police officials in Puntland confirmed the girl is now safe with her family, and authorities are investigating the circumstances of the case.
Child Marriage in Somalia: A Deeper Issue
This case has reignited concerns about child marriage in Somalia, where poverty, insecurity, and traditional customs often lead to young girls being wed at an early age.
A 2020 report by the United Nations Population Fund and the Somali government revealed that 35% of Somali women aged 20-24 were married before turning 18—a decrease from 45% in 2017 but still alarmingly high.
Efforts to address the issue have faced significant hurdles. In 2023, Somalia’s Ministry of Women and Human Rights introduced a child rights bill aimed at curbing underage marriage. However, it was sent back by lawmakers who objected to certain provisions, and there is still no clear timeline for its reintroduction.
With growing public outrage and renewed discussions about child protection laws, many Somalis are now calling for immediate reforms to ensure cases like this never happen again.
