Ilham Mahdi al Assi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1996 or 1997 |
| Died | 2010 |
| Known for | Child bride |
| Spouse | Abed al-Hikmi |
Ilham Mahdi al Assi was a 13-year-old Yemeni girl who died as a result of bleeding following her first sexual intercourse with her husband, [1] 23-year-old Abed al-Hikmi, who was later detained by police. [2] The practice of marrying young girls was condemned by an NGO as "child rape condoned under the guise of marriage." [3]
Yemen has a tribal culture, and the marriage of young girls is common; most Yemeni girls are married before they reach puberty. [4] A proposed law setting a minimum age of 17 for women and 18 for men to marry was opposed by conservative Yemenis, including women. [1]