Noora Al Shami was forced to marry her 35-year-old cousin, Mohammed Al Ahdam, at age 11 in the Yemeni port city of Al Hudaydah, according to reports. The marriage took place during a three-day ceremony, and Al Shami became a mother before she reached the age of 14.
How did the marriage of Noora Al Shami occur?
The marriage was conducted in Al Hudaydah, a major port city in Yemen. Noora Al Shami was 11 years old at the time of the union. Her husband, Mohammed Al Ahdam, was 35. The wedding celebrations lasted three days. Following the marriage, Al Shami gave birth to a child before her 14th birthday.
What is the context of child marriage in Yemen?
Yemen does not have a national minimum age for marriage. According to reporting on the case, the practice of marrying young girls to older relatives, such as cousins, persists in various regions of the country. In the case of Al Shami, the age gap between the spouses was 24 years.
