11-Year-Old Yemeni Girl Fleeing Forced Marriage And Her Uncle In An Interview: Islamists Are Threatening Our Lives; Nada Is With The Yemen Women's Association

Nada Al-Ahdal, the 11-year-old Yemeni girl who garnered worldwide sympathy when a MEMRI TV video, in which she said she was fleeing a forced marriage, went viral, is now facing death threats from Islamists, according to her uncle. In an interview with Al-Hurra TV, Abd Al-Salam Al-Ahdal, who raised Nada since she was a toddler, said that Islamist groups connected to the Muslim Brotherhood "want Nada to disappear, along with the entire problem."

According to the uncle, their concern is that Nada's high profile case might have an impact on the bid for legislation criminalizing child marriage, to which they are opposed. He told the interviewer that Nada was now staying with the Yemen Women's Association for her protection and would remain there for an indefinite period of time. "She refuses to go back to [her family]. She wants to live with me," he said, adding: "I hope that Nada receives protection or that she leaves Yemen temporarily, until this crisis calms down."

Al-Ahdal came to the public awareness on July 21, 2013, when MEMRI TV posted a translation of a video that was found on YouTube, in which she said she would rather die than enter a forced marriage. Within hours, the video-clip went viral, and within four days, the number of views is close to ten million. To view the original MEMRI TV clip, click here.

The video highlighted the widespread problem of child marriage in Yemen, where, according to a 2006 study, 14 percent of girls are married before the age of 15 and 52 percent are married before the age of 18.[1]

On July 24, Radio Sawa, a sister station of Al-Hurra TV, broadcast a telephone interview with Nada and her uncle, which was also posted on the Internet.

In the interview, Abd Al-Salam Al-Ahdal said: "There are religious Islamic groups, connected to the Muslim Brotherhood, which reject any settlement. They want Nada to disappear, along with the entire problem." He further said: "They have threatened Nada and me more than once. They told us that our lives were in danger and that we would end up in prison." According to Abd Al-Salam Al-Ahdal, the Islamists are concerned that the case of Nada may have an impact on legislation which is underway to criminalize child marriage in Yemen.

To view the MEMRI TV video of the interview with Nada and her uncle, click here.

Nada's Uncle: Islamic Groups Connected To MB "Want Nada To Disappear"

Interviewer: "Hello, sir. You are the uncle of Nada Al-Ahdal."

Abd Al-Salam Al-Ahdal: "Right."

Interviewer: "Where is she now?"

Abd Al-Salam Al-Ahdal: "She's with the Yemen Women's Association."

Interviewer: "What are they doing for her?"

Abd Al-Salam Al-Ahdal: "They are protecting her."

Interviewer: "Until when?"

Abd Al-Salam Al-Ahdal: "I don't know. There's no time limit. There were a few unsuccessful attempts at reconciliation. Everything has been agreed upon, but there are religious Islamic groups, connected to the Muslim Brotherhood, which reject any settlement. They want Nada to disappear, along with the entire problem." [...]

"Making Nada and this entire issue go away is a sort of a political rehearsal. A law criminalizing child marriage is about to be legislated. The Islamists are opposed to this law. The case of Nada may influence the National Dialogue Conference, and prohibition on child marriage may be included in the law or the constitution." [...]

Interviewer: "Is it possible that she will return to her family?"

Abd Al-Salam Al-Ahdal: "No, she refuses to go back to them. She wants to live with me."

[...]

Nada's Uncle: "I Hope Nada Receives Protection or Leaves Yemen Temporarily"

Abd Al-Salam Al-Ahdal: "I hope that Nada receives protection or that she leaves Yemen temporarily, until this crisis calms down."

Interviewer: "Do you believe that these Islamic groups pose a threat to Nada's safety?"

Abd Al-Salam Al-Ahdal: "They have threatened Nada and me more than once. They told us that our lives were in danger and that we would end up in prison."

[...]

Nada: "They Wanted To Marry Me Off For The Money"

The interviewer then directed several questions at Nada:

Interviewer: "Who helped you get out of your [parents'] house?"

Nada Al-Ahdal: "Nobody."

Interviewer: "You got out of the house all by yourself?"

Nada Al-Ahdal: "Yes."

Interviewer: "Do you remember what time it was?"

Nada Al-Ahdal: "6 A.M."

Interviewer: "Weren't you afraid?"

Nada Al-Ahdal: "No, I wasn't."

[...]

Interviewer: "Have you forgiven your family?"

Nada Al-Ahdal: "No, I haven't."

Interviewer: "What are you going to do now?"

Nada Al-Ahdal: "I will try to solve my problem."

Interviewer: "How will you solve your problem?"

Nada Al-Ahdal: "How will I solve it... I don't know."

Interviewer: "You were living with your uncle all that time, and only went to visit your family, when they decided to marry you off?"

Nada Al-Ahdal: "Yes."

Interviewer: "Why did they decide to marry you off if you don't even live with them?"

Nada Al-Ahdal: "For the money."

[...]