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Egypt: a 12-year-old boy's engagement to his 11-year-old cousin sparks outrage

Published 23 October 2016 in Blog

At a lavish wedding in Egypt, a father announced the engagement of his 12-year-old son to the boy's 11-year-old cousin. Egyptian law prohibits marriage for anyone under 18, and the decision has sparked outrage among activists.

"Double the joy"

Family and friends were celebrating the wedding of the father's eldest son. The father decided to "double the joy" by announcing the engagement.

The wedding was held 75 miles north of Cairo. According to the Washington Post, the guests did not bat an eyelid when the announcement was made. But photos of the young couple were then published in local media, and they were met with anger.

A complaint to the attorney general

Reda Eldanbouki, head of the Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counseling, reported the case to the National Center for Childhood and Motherhood, a government agency.

He also filed a complaint with the attorney general. He asked for an investigation and for the parents to be held accountable for what he called a "crime". He said the engagement "will only lead to an early marriage in which the girl will be deprived of equal chances to education, growth, and will isolate her from social spheres".

The father's view

The father told Egypt's Al Watan newspaper that there was "nothing inappropriate" about the couple. It was only "an engagement, not a marriage", he said.

He brushed off the criticism, saying he "is a free man and did nothing wrong". According to him, his son had always loved his cousin and used to say he would marry her when they grew up, before any other man could ask for her hand.

"They will get married when they reach the legal age," he said. He added that both children acted "beyond their years", had "strong feelings for each other" through Facebook and other social media, and "wanted to get engaged".

Source: YouTube