You Go GIRL!!!! For the first time in Yemen: 8-year-old girl asks for divorce in court

Here is the original article link: yementimes.com/article.shtml that I copied here in case the link is removed:

For the first time in Yemen: 8-year-old girl asks for divorce in court
By: Hamed Thabet

SANA’A, April 9 - An eight-year-old girl decided last week to go the Sana’a West Court to prosecute her father, who forced her to marry a 30-year-old man.

Nojoud Muhammed Nasser arrived at court by herself on Wednesday, April 2, looking for a judge to handle her case against her father, Muhammed Nasser, who forced her two months ago to marry Faez Ali Thamer, a man 22 years her senior. The child also asked for a divorce, accusing her husband of sexual and domestic abuse.

According to Yemeni law, Nojoud cannot prosecute, as she is underage. However, court judge Muhammed Al-Qathi heard her complaint and subsequently ordered the arrests of both her father and husband.

“My father beat me and told me that I must marry this man, and if I did not, I would be raped and no law and no sheikh in this country would help me. I refused but I couldn’t stop the marriage,” Nojoud Nasser told the Yemen Times. “I asked and begged my mother, father, and aunt to help me to get divorced. They answered, ‘We can do nothing. If you want you can go to court by yourself.’ So this is what I have done,” she said.

Nasser said that she was exposed to sexual abuse and domestic violence by her husband. “He used to do bad things to me, and I had no idea as to what a marriage is. I would run from one room to another in order to escape, but in the end he would catch me and beat me and then continued to do what he wanted. I cried so much but no one listened to me. One day I ran away from him and came to the court and talked to them.”

“Whenever I wanted to play in the yard he beat me and asked me to go to the bedroom with him. This lasted for two months," added Nasser. "He was too tough with me, and whenever I asked him for mercy, he beat me and slapped me and then used me. I just want to have a respectful life and divorce him.”

Nasser’s uncle, who does not want to reveal his name, is following the case now as her guardian. According to her uncle, after Muhammed Nasser, the girl's father, lost his job as a garbage truck driver in Hajjah, he became a beggar, and soon after suffered from mental problems.

Thamer is in jail now. “Yes I was intimate with her, but I have done nothing wrong, as she is my wife and I have the right and no one can stop me," he said. "But if the judge or other people insist that I divorce her, I will do it, it’s ok.”

So far, no accusations have been made against her father, who was later released due to health problems, or Nasser's husband, who will remain in jail for further investigation.

“So far there is no case and no charges, as Nojoud arrived by herself to court asking just for a divorce,“ said Shatha Ali Nasser, a lawyer in the Supreme Court who is following Nojoud Nasser’s story.

Shatha Ali Nasser confirmed that item number 15 in Yemeni civil law reads that “no girl or boy can get married before the age of 15." However, this item was amended in 1998 so parents could make a contract of marriage between their children even if they are under the age of 15. But the husband cannot be intimate with her until she is ready or mature,” said Nasser.“This law is highly dangerous because it brings an end to a young girl’s happiness and future fruitful life. Nojoud did not get married, but she was raped by a 30-year old man.”

Nasser confirmed that Nojoud Nasser’s case is not the first of its kind in Yemen, but it is the first time that a girl went to court by herself to ask for a divorce.

“We are not planning to return Nojoud to her family. Who knows? Maybe after a few years the same thing will happen to her again," said Shatha Ali Nasser. "We are planning to put her in Dar Al-Rahama [an non-governmental organization that works with children], where she can have a better life and education. We do not want her family to pay her expenses, as they are poor.”

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Saxon stars in "Hot Fuzz"

Ok - so maybe Saxon doesn't actually *star* in Hot Fuzz, but there is a K9 unit in the movie named Saxon...and the Actor-dog who plays the character Saxon is actually named Sampson...and if you know anything about my woof Saxon Dog, he get's called Sampson *a lot*.

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Rent Hot Fuzz - ver very funny! If you like "Shawn of the Dead" or "Run Fat Boy, Run", you like "Hot Fuzz". There's also some Harry Potter actors in it too!

And of course Saxon, pretending to be Sampson playing Saxon. ;-)

Hot Fuzz trailer youtube.com/watch
Rated: not for kids

Yo - Insulting Graffiti Guy - Learn some grammar!!!

OK - so I'm getting my mail from the multi dwelling mail box (you know - those large mailboxes used for like half a street...you get a key and tiny little itty box) and I see some new graffiti scribbled for the enjoyment of all...

"yo mama was her bitch"

uh...ok...I'm confused. Is this an insult (possible translation #1: "your mama was her bitch"...whoever 'her' is) or an threat (possible translation #2: "Your mama was here bitch"). I mean, should we pissed off because you insulted my 'mama' or be afraid of you because you are my 'mama'? I can't tell. Frankly, if I'm going to be in a rumble anytime soon...I'd like to have fair warning.

So, for all you taggers out there (or whatever you call your little graffiti scribblin' asses) here is a tip for you: If you are going to scribble something, make your meaning clear. Example #1: "Yo bitch, I'm gonna get you and your ride". I think that's pretty clear. Your person is in jeopardy as well as your vehicle. Example #2: "Ho - get your skanky hole away from my man or else". This one clearly states a simple request in a threatening manner. And my personal favourite, example #3: "I'm gonna' rip off your head and dump down your neck hole". It's a random act of violence clearly stated. It's completely gender neutral and works well for most situations.

That's your lesson for today. Please be sure to tag clearly and use proper grammar

A reminder to look at the gift inside!

(click on the comic so that it can be made bigger/readable)

What part of this is a good idea?

I saw this in a hunting/outdoors catalog that I purchsed some dutch oven accessories from...Como Key Fob Overlays.
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Identity Theft Just Plain Sucks

Long time person, first time victim.

This sucks.