SOCIETY: PETALING JAYA – Marriage with child bride not consummated, says groom

A Facebook post by one of the man’s wives.

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PETALING JAYA: The 41-year-old man who married an 11-year-old child bride has said that their marriage was officiated on paper but it had yet to be consummated.

The groom told Astro Awani that he was merely trying to provide for her and her family, adding that she is still under the care of her parents. He said he would take his bride home when she comes of age .

‘Nikah gantung’ is a term to describe a type of Muslim marriage, with official engagement until an agreed-upon time. While the couple can be seen in public and recognised as husband and wife, they cannot engage in sexual activity.

The man said he married the young girl, a Thai national, in Thailand to keep it a secret from his first two wives.

“I’ve known my third wife for a long time and I kept my marriage a secret to avoid a misunderstanding with my two other wives,” he was quoted as saying.

“The mother to my third wife is a worker at the shop of my first wife. Her daughter was friends with my daughter and studied under me. I taught her, too.”

“I wanted to take care of her, as she is poor, to help and provide for her family, so I made the decision.

“The intention to make her my wife comes from the heart. I made this decision, so that each of us – her family and I – can take care of her.”

The child bride and her parents said the marriage was consensual. / Posted on 1 July 2018 – 01:38pm

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