Ilham Mahdi al Assi

Last updated
Ilham Mahdi al Assi
Born1996 or 1997
Died2010 (2011)
Known for Child bride
SpouseAbed 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]

References

  1. 1 2 "Yemeni child bride dies of bleeding after intercourse". AFP. April 8, 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-04-12. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  2. Thomas, JoAnne (April 10, 2010). "Ilham Mahdi al Assi: Yemeni Child Bride Dies After Marital Rape". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  3. Broadwin, Liz (2010-04-16). "The Syrian Women Observatory Stands in solidarity with "Illham al Assi", a Victim of Child Rape Condoned Under the Guise of Marriage". Syrian Women Observatory. Archived from the original on 2010-06-20. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  4. al Qadhi, Mohammed (April 9, 2010). "Dead Yemeni bride, 13, 'a victim of childhood abuse'". The National. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014.