At the tender age of 11, Noora Al Shami found herself dressed in attire meant for adults, unknowing of the harrowing experience awaiting her later that night when her 35-year-old cousin, who would soon become her husband, brought her home to subject her to assault.
In the bustling port city of Al Hudaydah in Yemen, a three-day festivity saw young Noora adorned in “three exquisite dresses” during a family gathering, only to be thrust into a cycle of sexual abuse by Mohammed Al Ahdam.
To the innocent Noora, the act of dressing up felt like harmless amusement, yet it foreshadowed the traumatic events that loomed ahead. Recollecting those moments, now at the age of 47, Noora shared with The Guardian, “I had the liberty to wear adult clothing, adorn myself with jewelry, and receive gifts.” However, the thought of becoming a victim of a violent criminal had never crossed her mind.
Upon the first exposure of Al Ahdam’s inappropriate behavior towards her, Noora fled. She managed to evade the assault for 10 days until Al Ahdam’s sisters accused her of dishonoring their brother by resisting him, as reported by the Express.
During the incident of rape, Noora experienced a state of shock within her body. “I was swiftly taken to the hospital – treated as a mere object of desire as a child, with the abuse persisting. My grievances were disregarded since I was considered a wife by law,” Noora recollected.
In 1989, Al Ahdam, a significantly older distant relative, wed Noora immediately after her 11th birthday. Reflecting on the marriage, Noora stated, “He was thrice my age and viewed matrimony as an opportunity to behave like a debased creature.”
Recent data from UNICEF in 2021 revealed a staggering figure of 4 million child brides in Yemen.
Years after her own childhood marriage, a Human Rights Watch study from 2006 indicated that 14% of Yemeni girls were married before turning 15, with over half being wed before reaching 18.
Families often marry off their daughters to alleviate financial burdens in exchange for a dowry, despite minimal safeguards for young girls under Islamic law.
Recounting the early days of her marriage, Noora recalled, “My husband offered a dowry of approximately $150, a substantial sum. However, it was post-wedding that fear and dread enveloped me. I was separated from my parents and left with a stranger. He transported me to his residence shared with his widowed father in Al Hudaydah. Although it was a pleasant abode, I felt an immediate sense of unease and despair.”
Noora endured two miscarriages within a year before giving birth to her son Ihab at the age of 13. Subsequently, her daughter Ahlam was born when she was 14, followed by her son Shihab at 15, with each pregnancy fraught with complications.
The brutality of her husband, Al Ahdam, escalated over time. “He didn’t hesitate to strike me, even during pregnancy,” Noora remembered. She added, “If his father hadn’t been present, the situation would have been far worse. His presence acted as some form of restraint, but my injuries were severe nonetheless.”
Al Adham’s cruelty extended to their children as well, once violently handling their daughter Alham, causing her to be hospitalized at the age of two due to injuries sustained during the ordeal.
After enduring a decade of torment, Noora found solace in a program run by Oxfam and the Yemeni Women’s Union, aimed at supporting survivors of domestic violence. This support led her to take the brave step of initiating divorce proceedings.
However, the challenges persisted as Noora navigated a legal battle for financial assistance to raise her children.
Despite the hardships, Noora’s resilience shone through as she pursued education, qualified as a teacher, and now advocates fervently for stricter regulations against child marriage.
Refusing to be shackled by her past, Noora emphasized the importance of transforming the lives of children through tangible actions rather than mere legal provisions. She stressed the necessity of a cultural shift, beyond legal frameworks, particularly in tribal communities.
While efforts to raise the legal marriage age from 15 to 18 persist, the enduring physical and emotional consequences of early marriages are profound and long-lasting.
Despite potential legislative amendments, Islamic law does not stipulate a minimum marriage age, with Yemeni clerics frequently challenging statutory impositions.
Presently, statistics from the advocacy group Girls Not Brides reveal that 30% of girls in Yemen are wed before reaching 18, with 7% marrying before turning 15.
Should this narrative resonate with you, SARSAS at info@sarsas.org.uk or the NHS can offer guidance and support for individuals affected by rape