Know how Social Media outcry saved a 11-year-old Child Bride married off to a 41 Year old man

12 Aug 2018

August 12, 2018:

The 11-year-old is believed to be the Trader’s third wife.

An 11-year-old child bride returned to Thailand this week after widespread outcry over her marriage to a Malaysian man 30 years her senior.

Malaysian Muslims below the age of 16 are allowed to marry with permission of the Religious Courts but the Union between the Girl and the 41-year-old trader went viral on the Social Media and reignited calls to end Child Marriage.

Ceremony took place in June over the border in Thailand’s Muslim-majority South in Narathiwat province, where Girl returned to Wednesday after the “immense pressure from Malaysian media”, Provincial governor Suraporn Prommool said.

Governor Suraporn stated that she is undergoing Mental Health Counselling because of the intense level of attention.

He further added that Marriage was not recognised under the Buddhist-majority Thailand’s Civil Law but it took place under the auspices of an Islamic council in Narathiwat and that her parents gave consent.

Trader, however, could face six months in jail if it is found that he did not get permission in Malaysia.

11-year-old was born in Thailand to parents who work as labour in Malaysia’s vast rubber plantations and Suraporn said she doesn’t speak Thai well.