Authorities announce the arrest of a suspect over the killing of prominent crime journalist Javier Valdez. Read More |
Tuesday, 18 May 2010 07:41

A Nigerian senator has come under fire for marrying an Egyptian girl who is alleged to be 36 years his junior.
Sani Ahmed Yerima, 49, is said to have paid $100,000 as dowry for the 13-year-old girl.
But he has defended his decision to marry a fourth wife even though the prospect of prosecution looms.
"The Prophet Muhammad married at the age of nine, therefore any Muslim who marries a girl of nine years and above, is following the teachings of the prophet," Yerima said.
"If there's anybody who'll tell me that what you did contradicts Islam, I 'll submit - and I'll do whatever they ask me to do."
Nigerian human-rights organisations say Yerima has broken the law and have called for his immediate arrest.
"If you have a law that says you cannot marry a 13-year-old. If you have a law that says you cannot marry a-15-year old, then why on God's green earth will a guy who is a senator, who makes laws, violate or break that same law?" one rights-group official said.
"It's because he thinks the law is not applicable to him."
Yerima's problems have been compounded by the fact that the wedding took place in the nation's capital, Abuja, where it is illegal to marry under the age of 18.
But in Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north, weddings of underage people do not often cause controversy.
Indeed, many northern states have refused to recognise the law making marriage for people under 18 illegal.
They say that the ban is against the teachings of Islam.
< Prev | Next > |
---|
Most Read News
- Kuala Lumpur police: Killing of al-Batsh an 'international issue'
- Afghanistan: 63 dead in attacks on voter registration centres
- Malaysia releases sketches of suspects in Fadi al-Batsh killing
- Somalia warns Dubai Ports World against violating its sovereignty
- Swedish star DJ Avicii dead at 28
- Hungarians protest PM Orban for second week
Global_News
Donation
Related
- Nigeria: 149 women and children rescued from Boko Haram
- Gunfire and explosions 'rock Nigeria's Maiduguri'
- Captors release group of abducted Nigerian schoolgirls
- Nigerian forces failed to act on mass abduction warnings: Amnesty
- Buhari puts off ACFTA free trade deal signing
- Africa's first bobsled team at Winter Olympics
Featured_Author
Opinion
![]() |
What Happened to that ‘Invasion’ of America? |
Jacob Hornberger | |
![]() |
The Great Day |
Uri Avnery | |
![]() |
Missiles over Damascus Courtesy of Monsters in Washington |
Lawrence Davidson | |
![]() |
Who is Really in Charge? |
Timothy V. Gatto | |
![]() |
Storm Warning |
Will Durst | |
![]() |
The Crime of the Tripartite Aggression Against Syria |
Elias Akleh | |
![]() |
A Civilization in Collapse, the Dawn of a New Order |
Graham Peebles | |
![]() |
The Dangerous Deficit in Trade Understanding |
Sheldon Richman | |
![]() |
The Banality of Evil: Diverting the Palestinian Struggle |
Richard Falk | |
![]() |
Solidarity with Julian Assange and Carles Puigdemont |
Ludwig Watzal |