Indian child bride becomes youngest divorcee in the world

Fatima Mangre got married at the age of four but separated after father said 'child marriage was wrong'

An Indian child bride, who got married at the age of four to a 10-year-old boy from Uttar Pradesh (UP), has become the youngest divorcee in the world.

Four year-old Fatima Mangre, whose father got her married to Arjun Bakridi from the Shravasti district of UP, lived with her husband for four years. However, Fatima's father, Anil Mangre, later realised his daughter was too young to live the life of a married woman.

Thus, Mangre suggested that the boy's family should let Fatima live with her family till the age of 18, which the latter opposed.



"I finally realised that this practice of marrying off daughters so young was wrong. She should have a childhood and that it was my duty to provide that," Mangre said.

His decision to keep Fatima for another 10 years led to a discord between the two families, following which he filed for divorce.

The dispute was settled when the National Women Commission helped Fatima (who is now 11) get a divorce in 2013, hence making her the youngest divorcee in the world at the age of eight.



"I have already admitted my mistake. Social pressures are high in our village. But the marriage has been annulled.

"I have admitted it was wrong to marry her off so early. I now want to make things right. I want to give my daughter a good childhood. I will do everything to protect her," the father said.

This article originally appeared on ScoopWhoop