In Egypt, the news about a man giving out his 12-year-old son’s hand in marriage to his 11-year-old cousin as gone viral, as everyone now blasts him for this irrational act.
An 12-year-old boy will marry his cousin, 11, after the groom-to-be’s father gave the couple’s engagement his blessing. While family and friends celebrated Nasser Hassan’s eldest son’s lavish wedding, the father decided to double the joy by announcing the engagement.
Egyptian law prohibits marriages for anyone under 18 and the decision for 12-year-old Omar and 11-year-old Gharam, to marry has sparked outrage among activists. According to Al Watan newspaper, Hassan disclosed that there was nothing inappropriate about the couple, adding that it was only an engagement, not a marriage. A complaint has already been filed with the attorney general to investigate the incident and hold the parents accountable for this crime, as the girl will be deprived of equal chances to education, growth, and will isolate her from social spheres.
Egyptian law prohibits marriages for anyone under 18 and the decision for Omar, 12, and Gharam, 11, to marry has sparked outrage among activists. Omar’s father brushed off any criticism, and said he is a free man and did nothing wrong. He said: “Omar has always loved Gharam so much that he used to say he will marry her when they grow up before any other man asks for her hand in marriage when she is older.
He added that they will get married when they reach the legal age.
