A father in Yemen has asked, not for money, but for one
million Facebook "likes" as dowry for his daughter's
hand
in marriage.
Yemen is a very traditional society, but one marriage
there
has been given a very modern twist. Instead of asking
his
daughter's husband-to-be for a dowry payment, Salem
Ayash, a poet from the city of Taiz, has asked for one
million Facebook likes. That's a lot in a country of just 25
million , where internet use is limited.
"It's the first time we've heard of something like this,"
says
Bashraheel Bashraheel, a journalist with Yemen's Al-
Ayyam newspaper. The story has made big waves on
social media there, he says, with countless bloggers
writing urging people to support the page so the couple
can get married. The page was set up on Sunday and
has
30,000 likes so far. "No-one in Yemen can afford
dowries
anymore," says Ayash, explaining why he's asking for a
digital dowry - rather than gold or money.
The fact that many young men cannot afford dowries,
and
so cannot get married, is a hot topic in Yemen, says
Bashraheel - with numerous attempts over the past few
years to set a maximum legal amount. Neighbours often
club together to help pay a dowry - which is set by the
father of the bride - and mass marriages are becoming
more popular as a way of making it more affordable.
Those commenting on Salem Ayash's Facebook page
seem divided on whether it's a good idea or not. Many
have thanked him for raising the issue of dowry
payments,
but others have questioned his motivations. "All you
want
is to use your daughter to seek fame," writes one -
noting
that the Facebook likes are for his own personal page,
rather than that of his daughter or her husband-to-be.
Ayash told the BBC that he wants to see evidence his
future son-in-law is making an effort to raise the one
million Facebook likes - but he won't be rigid. "If I see
that
he's worked hard, I'm willing to be flexible to see them
happily married."
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-25414584?
ocid=socialflow_twitter_bbcworld grin
PEOPLE, WHAT DO YOU THINK??

sooo wetin he go come take the likes do? chop am?

wise and understable father

The man must be as rich as hell

Matildachinyere: wise and understable father

Wise?? Lol!