“I Accepted Because I Love Him,” 11-year-old Child Bride Speaks Out

This morning, the nation was shocked to discover the news of a 41-year old imam marrying a young 11-year old girl. Now to an even bigger surprise, the young girl has spoken out in her husband’s defense.

“Even though many people are angry with me, I do not want a divorce, as long as Abe wants me and I love him,” the 11-year-old said.

The child, who only wants to be identified as Ayu, is not yet in school, and is now the third wife of a 41-year-old imam, and local rubber trader.

“Since we got married about two weeks ago, we have yet to sleep together because Abe (Kelantanese slang for Abang which is a term also used to refer to husbands) promised we will only live together in another five years.”

Source: New Straits Times

It is learned that Ayu is a Thai citizen. While Thailand’s religious law does not prohibit underage teenagers from getting married if consent is obtained from the parents, Narathiwat Islamic Religious Council office has stated that for the past few years until today, they have not conducted any marriage procedures for underage teenagers. Abdul Aziz Che Mamat, a spokesperson for the council said that they never conducted a marriage process for the couple.

A source told NST that the couple could have married at the Sungai Golok religious office which borders Kelantan.

The young bride said they were married on June 18 and she was accompanied by her parents.

“Before Hari Raya, my parents asked me about Abe’s intention to marry me. I accepted because I love him.

“…I have known Abe for a long time, one of Abe’s children is also my friend.”

“I love Abe because he is a nice man,” she said, when reporters from the NST interviewed her family.

Meanwhile, her father, a 49-year-old rubber tapper said the family has been living in Gua Musang for 20 years.

“A week before Hari Raya, my (then) son-in-law came to see me to express his intention to marry my youngest child and asked if I agreed,” he said. He has even sold rubber to his now son-in-law on previous occasions.

Source: Berita Harian

He said his son-in-law sympathised with them as they were not well off and promised a more comfortable life for them.

“In fact my son-in-law said they would only live as husband and wife and register their marriage in five years. That is why I accepted his proposal,” the rubber tapper said.

He added that despite people talking about the marriage, his daughter was not saddened or depressed. He has since decided to leave the issue to his son-in-law, because he says he is impoverished.

They have also previously rented a house next door to his son-in law’s first wife.

The imam’s 41-year-old second wife said she found out about her husband’s third marriage from his first wife, who informed her of the marriage taking place in southern Thailand.

“I asked him if this was true, that he had married a child… but he denied it,” she said.

So he lied to his second wife, and went ahead to marry his third wife without her agreement!

She claims to not be angry that he has taken another wife, but in disagreement with her young age and that she is also friends with her 15-year-old stepdaughter.

The reason why she uploaded the photos on Facebook was to serve him and members of the public a lesson on marrying an underage child.

She also complained of being tired of trying to raise her four children (aged between 3 and 10) because despite her husband’s high income as a rubber trader, she is only given RM50 to RM100 for groceries and the children.

In light of these new developments, do you think this entire marriage is still acceptable?

Also read: 40-Year-Old M’sian Imam Shockingly Marries 11-Year-Old Girl, Netizens Outraged