Pic shows: Selamat Riayadi (groom) and Rohaya (the bride);
A 16-year-old boy and 71-year-old woman have shocked Indonesian society by getting married after threatening suicide if their families blocked the union.
Selamat Riayadi and his elderly bride named only as Rohaya wed in their home village of Karangendah in the western South Sumatra province of Indonesia.
The marriage is not believed to be motivated by financial concerns, as both newlyweds are equally poor.
His family made a dowry payment to hers of 200,000 IDR (11.50 GBP).
A video of the wedding ceremony shows the young groom put his face in his hands as the union is proclaimed, his expression unreadable.
His new wife sits quietly beside him as the wedding guests go wild with delight.
The wedding venue was the home of a local community leader named as Kuswoyo.
After the video and photos of the wedding spread on Indonesian social media, many questioned whether the union was real.
But an Indonesian media outlet claims it spoke to Kuswoyo, in whose home the marriage was solemnised, who confirmed both the marriage and the couple’s threats to kill themselves if they were barred from marrying.
He is reported as saying: "They said they wanted to commit suicide because they were completely in love, so if one of them dies, then both must die."
Kuswoyo’s permission was needed according to local tradition as Rohaya had been widowed twice before.
Both he and her brother gave in to her wishes to wed following the couple’s suicide threats.
It was not clear who if anyone gave permission for Selamat to marry.
The official minimum age for boys to marry in Indonesia is 19 but a loophole allows for any marriage within a person’s "religious norms".
The Muslim couple have formed a "nikah siri" marriage, recognised by society but not the state, as Islam has no formal minimum marriageable age, only requiring consensus that the would-be bride or groom has reached "maturity".
A 71-year-old pensioner has married her 16-year-old toy boy in Indonesia after they threatened to commit suicide if their families blocked the marriage.Despite their 55 year age gap, teenager Selamat Riayadi tied the knot with a widow named only as Rohaya in their home village of Karangendah.Their wedding was held at the home of a community leader named Kuswoyo, who told local media that the couple said they would kill themselves if they were barred from marrying.
He reportedly said: ‘They said they wanted to commit suicide because they were completely in love, so if one of them dies, then both must die.’Footage of the ceremony shows Selamat putting his hands to his face as guests scream and cheer in celebration.They were accused of not marrying for love, but as both are equally poor, money is not thought to be a factor.Both Kuswoyo and the groom’s brother gave their permission for the couple to wed, according to local reports.
Men must be at least 19 before they get married in Indonesia, but a loophole in the law allows for marriage under an individual’s ‘religious norms’.They reportedly formed a ‘nikah siri’ marriage which is recognised by society but not the state.
