The law in young couple’s homeland of Egypt bans marriage between under 18s and Omar, 12, and 11-year-old Gharam has sparked outrage among activists.Omar’s dad, Nasser Hassan, said there was “nothing inappropriate” about the union saying it was just “an engagement, not a marriage”.The older brother’s wedding was held 75 miles north of Cairo and guests were apparently in no way surprised when the union was announced.
But the photos of the pair provoked anger when they were published on social media with Reda Eldanbouki, the head of the Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counseling, to report the incident to the National Center for Childhood and Motherhood, a government agency.
Omar’s father brushed off any criticism, and said he ‘is a free man and did nothing wrong’.
‘Omar has always loved Gharam so much that he used to say he will marry her when they grow up before any other man asks for her hand in marriage when she is older,’ he added.
‘They will get married when they reach the legal age.’