News By Nigeriapen.com.ng

Over the past couple of years, the Indonesian province of South Sulawesi has been in the news with alarming frequency for viral stories of children getting married, either among themselves or with much older adults.

According to reports, a 41-year-old widower named Rustam Ashary last week married a 13-year-old girl, who has been identified by her initials SW, both of whom are from the Sidrap regency of South Sulawesi. Rustam met SW on Facebook, and the pair reportedly communicated via the social media platform for three months before deciding to marry.

“We the families gave our blessings to their relationship,” SW’s mother, Nurhayati, told Detik after her child’s marriage, insisting that her daughter was never pressured into marrying Rustam and that they are now happy together.“She’s still in Grade 1 at an MTs (religious middle school, equivalent to grade 7),” Nurhayati added when asked about her daughter’s schooling. Photos from Rustam and SW’s wedding day have circulated online, some showing them holding up their marriage certificate, confirming that the union is legally recognized.

The South Sulawesi provincial government say they had no legal jurisdiction to prevent Rustam and SW’s marriage, but now that it has happened they are focusing on ensuring that SW still receives her rights as a child. “We want to ensure she gets her rights such as to a full education,” South Sulawesi Child Protection Services Head Nur Anti told Detik .

Nur added that the government has urged SW to delay her pregnancy until after she finishes formal schooling, but the reality is that it would be difficult for them to intervene in Rustam and SW’s private lives, whereas, if they weren’t legally married, the 13-year-old would be considered a victim of statutory rape. The current legal age of marriage in Indonesia is 19 years old for men and 16 years old for women.

However, the country’s 1974 Law on Marriage also includes a major loophole to this requirement which allows marriages to still be considered legal if they are done “in accordance” with religious belief, known as nikah siri.

As such, underage marriages that have been sanctified by religious courts or officials must still be officially recognized by the government — if not, many are satisfied with merely fulfilling religious or traditional requirements for marriage.

News Source: https://nigeriapen.com.ng/photo-41-year-old-widower-weds-13-year-girl-three-months-after-meeting-on-facebook-family-says-marriage-wasnt-forced-html/

HML to the couple...........
She might be tagged ''too young '' but atleast it's not out of poverty or greed, also backed by the consent of her parents..... what a concern Governments they have over there even promising that they would " ensure she gets her rights such as to a full education,” .....

My Congratulations.....

13 years, But why?

OP please correct the man's age to 81.

Weird

Ok

Ned Owoko come and see your brother from another country

And old meat full everywhere, who wan cum marry dem

Catch them young

; D ibu come see

Empiree, Sino.

Come and see. PEDOPHILIA sanctioned by a peaceful religion.

You don't want gays to marry but this is acceptable in your religion of peace.

.

Is that make up on her face? That's heavy, her face looks like a mask.

Nawao,

Crazy people everywhere all over the world.

Before you rent any house in Nigeria, please make sure you see thier Nepa bill. I say it again see their nepa bill¿

Was he born in northern Nigeria ?


Because Aisha was 13 when Buhari struck

TonyeBarcanista:
Catch them young

Mehn, it is terrible, how can this man sleep with this toddler, like seriously

Of course, na them....

Hmm

Dirty looking people with their dirty culture.

WTF?

phelonrays:
HBL to the couple...........
She might be tagged ''too young '' but atleast it's not out of poverty or greed, also backed by the consent of her parents..... what a concern Governments they have over there even promising that they would " ensure she gets her rights such as to a full education,” .....

My Congratulations.....

She’s NOT old enough to make an INFORMED decision...
>

Islamabad

phelonrays:
HBL to the couple...........
She might be tagged ''too young '' but atleast it's not out of poverty or greed, also backed by the consent of her parents..... what a concern Governments they have over there even promising that they would " ensure she gets her rights such as to a full education,” .....

My Congratulations.....

you're useless as your comment

Indonesia is a predominantly muslim country and it's not considered a crime or sin to marry underage children in islam, going by the history of Mohammed who married Aisha at the age of 9.