In
this photo taken Wednesday, March 13, 2013, Abdi Ali, 25, right, shakes
hands with an Islamic cleric who marries eloping couples, left, as
Ali’s girlfriend Anisa, 23, watches, during their elopement marriage in
Walaweyn, Somalia. Since the Islamic extremist rebels of al-Shabab have
been pushed out of almost all of Somalia’s cities and towns, life has
begun to return to normal, including elopements which al-Shabab under
its strict interpretation of Islamic Shariah law had declared illegal
and punishable by whipping or even death by stoning. FARAH ABDI WARSAMEH
— AP Photo
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Outside a dilapidated two-story building, Abdi Ali says goodbye to
his veiled girlfriend Anisa and they take two separate streets to avoid
attention. Soon they're aboard a minibus heading outside Mogadishu,
pretending they don't know each other.After more than two hours
of travel, they arrive at Walaweyn, a run-down town 90 kilometers (56
miles) north of Mogadishu, and are led inside a shanty by a man running a
string of Arab worry beads through his fingers. Another man and woman
walk out; they have just been married. Abdi Ali, who is 25, and his
23-year-old girlfriend will be next.
Since the Islamic extremist
rebels of al-Shabab have been pushed out of almost all of Somalia's
cities and towns, life has begun to return to normal. Under its strict
interpretation of Islamic Shariah law, al-Shabab had declared eloping
illegal, punishable by whipping or even death by stoning. Now that the
extremists' harsh rule has been replaced by a more tolerant form of
Islam, elopement once again is popular among young Somali couples, many
of whom have dramatic stories of defying their families to follow their
hearts and marry.
In the case of Ali and Anisa, they had dated in
secret for two years. Anisa, who refused to give her full name for fear
of family retribution, said they decided to elope after her parents
refused her request to marry Ali, intending her to marry a cousin in
America.
Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2013/04/17/2867987/as-islamic-radicals-retreat-young.html#storylink=cpy
"They tried to turn down my choice, and I had to do the same against
their will," said Anisa, her soft voice and shy demeanor belying her
determination. "You can't be engaged with just a stranger you have been
forced to marry. We are living a civilized world."
Anisa, with
hennaed hands and bangle bracelets, is studying business at a Mogadishu
university. She looks fondly at Ali, a lanky man with wispy hair who
works as a tailor.
Walaweyn appears an unlikely marriage
destination. It is little more than a crossroads with many of its
buildings made of poles and dried cow dung, which is fitting as most of
the residents are cow herders.
Walaweyn's elopement activity is
one of the most visible signs that the tight grip that Islamic
militiamen once held here has loosened. After the al-Shabab rebels left
in October 2012, elopement became an industry in this town. There are
several eloping rooms, including some in buildings that once housed
al-Shabab extremists. Guides welcome new arrivals to the town, asking
them if they want to elope.
Elopements here have soared, says Sheikh Mohamed Salad, an Islamic cleric who marries eloping couples.
"Already this year we married hundreds of people, unlike last year when you could barely receive ten or fewer a month," he said.
Reasons
for choosing the elopement option vary. It is favored by poor young men
who cannot afford the hefty dowries given to brides' families. Others,
as in Ali and Anisa's case, are rebelling against an arranged marriage
so love can prevail.
Elopement is generally frowned upon in the
Saudi Arabia-based Wahabi school of Islam that is growing in influence.
But Sufism, which is followed by many moderate Somalis, considers
elopement a legal marriage, according to Mohamed Yasin, an Islamic
philosopher in Mogadishu.
"Elopement is fully legal in accordance
with the teaching of Islamic religion," said Sheikh Mohamed Ahmed, a
Sufi cleric in Mogadishu. "If the woman happens to be in a remote place
far from her guardians she can be wedded if she agrees to it."
Walaweyn's
location is just far away from Mogadishu for young women to be out of
their parents' jurisdiction so they can decide on their own marriage.
And that is why Ali and Anisa chose Walaweyn.
After arriving in
the town, Ali and Anisa go into a small, stuffy elopement room. A cleric
presides over the marriage ceremony which lasts about 20 minutes. Ali
pays about $20 for the service. The couple emerges holding a small
marriage certificate written out in ink, which will prevent them from
being accused of adultery and, if they have children, will ensure the
children are seen as legitimate. The no-frills ceremony is a far cry
from the elaborate nuptial ceremonies, feasts and celebrations of a
traditional Somali wedding. But the smiles of Ali and Anisa show their
delight.
"Our dream has just come true. We are finally married
now," declared Ali, smiling and shading his face against the scorching
sun.
However, they will continue to keep their relationship
secret, at least for now. Anisa will live with her parents and have
clandestine meetings with Ali. Now that they have had the certificate,
the two are looking forward to consummating their marriage when they can
find time alone together.
"Secret meetings, phone calls and
anonymity will dictate our relationship," said Ali. "But we shall
finally, officially, be married."
He wants to break the news of
the marriage gently to Anisa's family. Like many eloped couples, Anisa
and Ali hope that eventually their families will accept the marriage,
although some families never agree and some even disown their children.
Then the newlyweds board a minivan heading back to Mogadishu, sitting separately, as if they don't know each other.
In
this photo taken Wednesday, March 13, 2013, Abdi Ali, 25, and his
girlfriend Anisa, 23, walk out after being married by an Islamic cleric
who marries eloping couples, in Walaweyn, Somalia. Since the Islamic
extremist rebels of al-Shabab have been pushed out of almost all of
Somalia’s cities and towns, life has begun to return to normal -
including elopements which al-Shabab under its strict interpretation of
Islamic Shariah law had declared illegal and punishable by whipping or
even death by stoning. FARAH ABDI WARSAMEH — AP Photo
Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2013/04/17/2867987/as-islamic-radicals-retreat-young.html#storylink=cpy