I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced

Forcedbyherfathertomarryamanthreetimesherage,youngNujoodAliwassentawayfromherparentsandbelovedsistersandmadetolivewithherhusbandandhisfamilyinanisolatedvillageinruralYemen.Thereshesuffereddailyfromphysicalandemotionalabusebyhermother-in-lawandnightlyattheroughhandsofherspouse.FloutinghisoathtowaittohavesexualrelationswithNujooduntilshewasnolongerachild,hetookhervirginityontheirweddingnight.Shewasonlytenyearsold.Unabletoendurethepainanddistressanylonger,Nujoodfled—notforhome,buttothecourthouseofthecapital,payingforataxiridewithafewpreciouscoinsofbreadmoney.WhenarenownedYemenilawyerheardabouttheyoungvictim,shetookonNujood’scaseandfoughtthearchaicsysteminacountrywherealmosthalfthegirlsaremarriedwhilestillunderthelegalage.SincetheirunprecedentedvictoryinApril2008,Nujood’scourageousdefianceofbothYemenicustomsandherownfamilyhasattractedastormofinternationalattention.HerstoryevenincitedchangeinYemenandotherMiddleEasterncountries,whereunderagemarriagelawsarebeingincreasinglyenforcedandotherchildbrideshavebeengranteddivorces.RecentlyhonoredalongsideHillaryClintonandCondoleezzaRiceasoneofGlamourmagazine’swomenoftheyear,Nujoodnowtellsherfullstoryforthefirsttime.Assheguidesusfromthemagical,fragrantstreetsoftheOldCityofSana’atothecement-blockslumsandruralvillagesofthisancientland,herunflinchinglookataninjusticesufferedbyalltoomanygirlsaroundtheworldisatonceshocking,inspiring,andutterlyunforgettable.