A planned mass wedding for 100 orphans in Nigeria has ignited public outrage over the welfare of the participants.
The event, scheduled for the end of this month, was organized by Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, the speaker of the national assembly in the largely Muslim north-western state of Niger. The orphans involved have lost family members in attacks by armed gangs.
Critics are worried that some of the girls might be underage or coerced into the marriage for financial reasons. Nigeria’s Women’s Affairs Minister, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, condemned the plan and announced her intention to seek a court injunction to halt the ceremony.
Human rights activists have also started a petition to stop the wedding. In response to the backlash, Speaker Sarkindaji has withdrawn his support for the event. However, the Imams Forum of Niger insists the marriage ceremony should proceed on May 24, asserting that the girls are not underage. The ages of the girls remain unclear.
Despite the controversy, some of the intended brides have spoken to local media in defense of the program. Mass weddings are a common practice in northern Nigeria, where religious and cultural norms, including polygamy, are widely accepted.
