13-yo child "bride", and six siblings taken into state custody

Maldives Police Service (MPS) has announced that the 13-year-old child "bride" from Madduvari island of Raa atoll, who was raped and impregnated by a religious extremist, has been taken into state custody along with her six siblings.

MPS revealed that investigations are ongoing into the family of hardline religious extremists for child neglect, which includes the failure to provide the children with their constitutional rights to healthcare and education such as vaccinations and public schooling, and the pregnancy of the 13-year-old child.

As such, the 13-year-old girl and her baby, as well as her six siblings have been removed from the family and taken into state custody.

The children are currently under the care of the Ministry of Gender and Family.

The authorities also state that the necessary actions are being taken regarding this case.

News of the 13-year-old child bride emerged, after her rapist, 26-year-old Ismail Hammadh of Fehi Ali, Raa atoll Madduvvari, was stabbed on a sea-cucumber fishing boat by his crew-mates following over an ideological disagreement.

Reports of him marrying the 13-year-old “out of court” and impregnating her, surfaced after.

He has since been arrested after being discharged from Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) on November 30.

While the 13-year-old girl has given birth, it has been confirmed that the baby’s DNA matches with Hammaadh.

As such, it has been revealed to RaajjeMV that the crew of the fishing boat consists of gang members and people with hard-line religious views. The crew on the fishing boat that day, including Hammadh, are also known to have extremist religious ideologies and criminal histories.