Yemeni 8-year-old bride dies on wedding night after intercourse
Originally having written this on September 11, 2013, I found it worthy of revisiting, as these types of atrocities are still be waged on young girls around the world.
Rawan would have been 10-years-old today, had she lived through her ordeal. Either way, her childhood and her life were stolen from her.
During this holiday season, may we always remember that our world's children deserve to be kept from the harms that befall them at the hands of the monsters that are often people who have been given the responsibility to protect them. These children all need to have a chance at life, choice, and freedom.
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September 11, 2013
This week in Yemen, a man, who is five times older than his 8-year-old bride, legally took his liberties with the young girl on their wedding night. This resulted in the girl's death after her 40-year-old husband had intercourse with her, rupturing her uterus.
I could barely read through the source article before I felt the onslaught of emotions and then burst into tears at the mere knowledge that this type of thing happens legally in the world.
We, who live in the "free world," tune in weekly to watch reality television's eligible bachelors and bachelorettes play peek-a-boo under the sheets.
Jerry Springer and his guests fascinate us when they openly share their deviant sexual secrets or lift their shirts to show naked breasts in order to receive their Mardi-Gras-style-Jerry-Springer-Beads.
We are mesmerized by 7-year-old Alana Thompson, a.k.a. Honey Boo Boo, as she exposes her body to jiggle her fat or have conversations with her eccentric family in a display of language and behavior that makes even the most crusty of sailors blush.
But when we read the stories of 8-year-old Rawan and others like her in Yemen, Afghanistan, India, and other places where child marriage is allowed, we shake our heads , sit back and do nothing, afraid to take a stand to say something that will offend someone and call into question another "cultural practice."
Though I recognize that culturally there are differences in many lands outside of the United States, at what point does having sex with a girl who would attend third grade or play hopscotch with her friends had she been born in a different country become acceptable to those who live outside Yemen?
When did we get to a point that we are so complacent that we turn away from a little girl who could be one of our daughters or nieces or granddaughters? When did we become so calloused that we will accept that a 40-year-old man can brutalize his 8-year-old little child-bride, as if this was another circus-style "freak show," any where in the world without finding a way to do something?
I am sickened over what our society will now tolerate. But most of all, my heart hurts for the little girls in Yemen whose childhood and lives are being lost to practices that we would never tolerate at "home."
Rest in peace, sweet Rawan.
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Copyright © 2013 Coral Levang, and not to be used without permission. Article may be shared, if properly credited and linked back to this source.
Article originally published on September 11, 2013 at Bubblews, but removed from website by author.
News Source: news.yahoo.com/child-bride-yemen-dies-internal-bleeding-wedding-night-165832059.html
child-bride - Yemen - marriage - child-abuse
Image Credit » https://pixabay.com/en/girl-bicycle-garden-people-outdoor-535251/ by Skitterphoto
Comments
MegL wrote on November 28, 2015, 2:16 PM
It's a terrible thing to happen. Poor child. It is very wrong.
Kasman wrote on November 28, 2015, 2:20 PM
There is also the cruel and devastating practice of female genital mutilation. Cultural differences be damned - these are barbaric practices which have no place in a civilised society. Honey Boo Boo is a different matter - her parents should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves and the fact that they are not is a further condemnation of our ''liberal'' society.
WordChazer wrote on November 28, 2015, 2:37 PM
I would simply not be allowed in many countries in the world. I am female, outspoken, made it to my late 30s before marrying, am not physically perfect, cannot have children, and have opinions on the way that females elsewhere are treated. Child brides and FGM are two subjects I feel strongly need to be policed heavily, as it is the cultural norms underlying this which need to be re-educated. Admittedly I have also heard of older men who marry these child brides in order to protect them from what would otherwise happen, and are prepared to take any stigma on the chin about their inability to successfully consummate the marriage. I have also heard of women, remembering their own FGM, who have been able to stand up to their families and prevent their daughters from undergoing similar.
1CoralLevang wrote on November 28, 2015, 2:39 PM
Yes. Very wrong.
CoralLevang wrote on November 28, 2015, 2:41 PM
I recognize that atrocities are not only committed against females. The practice of bacha bazi with little boys is just as abhorrent to me. There was something I read recently that suggested that many of the up and coming terrorists were some of these young boys.
LoudMan wrote on November 28, 2015, 2:42 PM
Abrahamic religions are a mental disorder.
1CoralLevang wrote on November 28, 2015, 2:44 PM
WordChazer I think that you are I are very similar in not being allowed in. My mouth would get me into major trouble, or killed. I would not only stand in solidarity with you on these issues, but I would also stand up to the practice of bacha bazi, as I mentioned in my response to Kasman.
CoralLevang wrote on November 28, 2015, 2:45 PM
I think that are many that would agree with you, Don.
LeaPea2417 wrote on November 28, 2015, 3:51 PM
It is so wrong and evil what they put young girls through. I get so angry reading stories like this.
CoralLevang wrote on November 28, 2015, 3:55 PM
I agree. We need to also read what they are doing to young boys, as well. I've mentioned it in my comments.
markgraham wrote on November 28, 2015, 4:06 PM
I do not watch Jerry Springer or Honey Boo Boo. Those shows are just one big headache to me. What happens in other parts of world is just too sad but with the news on 24/7 you cannot help to feel saddened and sick at the same time.
JohnRoberts wrote on November 28, 2015, 4:29 PM
This is such a vile story as to make one ill. No, this is not some splatter movie synopsis but reality and reality can be the most horrifying in the world.
CoralLevang wrote on November 28, 2015, 4:32 PM
Well, I do think that Honey Boo-Boo was dropped because of family scandal, so that's one less headache.
CoralLevang wrote on November 28, 2015, 4:33 PM
And there are many other vile stories, including those we ignore here, even in the USA.
JohnRoberts wrote on November 28, 2015, 4:34 PM
Very true. There is something horrible going on everywhere. You can say that is mankind and the way it's always been.
CoralLevang wrote on November 28, 2015, 4:36 PM
I know that many use the saying, "what is the world coming to nowadays?" But you are right. It is humankind, and always has been.
wolfgirl569 wrote on November 28, 2015, 5:14 PM
It is very sad especially in this so called civilized world.
CoralLevang wrote on November 28, 2015, 5:27 PM
So few truly show true civility any more.
VinceSummers wrote on November 28, 2015, 7:30 PM
Mankind is incapable of self-rule. This is something few admit to, yet it is true. They are INCAPABLE of self-rule.
alexdg1 wrote on November 28, 2015, 11:10 PM
I'm a guy, and I'm sure that I have a few flaws caused by machismo, but I really hate patriarchal societies where men make up all the rules (especially when it comes to sex) and women and young girls suffer the consequences. Any culture or religion that condones sexual exploitation of underage girls or genital mutilation is barbaric and uncivilized.
DWDavisRSL wrote on November 28, 2015, 11:46 PM
I almost didn't read this post because I knew it would upset me greatly. This practice is disgusting and wrong and so is any culture which allows it to go on. If that offends anyone, they need to be offended, deeply, to the point where they become ashamed and stop the practice.
DWDavisRSL wrote on November 28, 2015, 11:48 PM
Child marriage is not limited to the Abrahamic religions. It was part of certain cultures long before Abram decided to move out of the city of Ur.
2CoralLevang wrote on November 29, 2015, 12:21 AM
Be careful with the "they." You, too, are part of mankind.
CoralLevang wrote on November 29, 2015, 12:23 AM
It is not only females who suffer; there are atrocities waged also against young boys. It's just horrible.
CoralLevang wrote on November 29, 2015, 12:26 AM
DWDavisRSL I do appreciate that you have read it and commented.
I think it is important for people to read it. We need to make people aware of the practices that others force on the vulnerable. We need to offend others. It is important to never stop until it stops. Again, I thank you.
Paulie wrote on November 29, 2015, 2:30 AM
This news is very saddening and shocking. I would certainly question the morals of the 40 year old man.
CoralLevang wrote on November 29, 2015, 2:42 AM
In the culture, it seems that moral practice has too many definitions of who can get away with what.
VinceSummers wrote on November 29, 2015, 7:18 AM
Not at all. I am incapable as well.
Colibry21 wrote on November 29, 2015, 11:54 AM
It is really sad that these happen. I do understand that there are differences in our cultures, but it still just doesn't seem right these things happen. She should have been thinking about playing with her friends, not about being married. Her life was unjustly cut short, in my opinion.
CoralLevang wrote on November 29, 2015, 12:53 PM
well, you may not have "self-rule," as you say, but I hope you have "self-control."
CoralLevang wrote on November 29, 2015, 12:54 PM
No matter what country, we all have things we should not be doing that harm our children who should be playing with friends.
VinceSummers wrote on November 29, 2015, 4:47 PM
Yes. To a reasonable degree, indeed I do!
cheri wrote on January 16, 2016, 11:22 PM
This makes me angry. I have daughters who I like to protect for th rest of my life.
Curse those people and may the child's soul rest in peace.