A mother's betrayal, a daughter's death: The tragedy we could have prevented
Gaala Aden Abdi, the 17-year-old refugee girl murdered and her body set on fire for refusing to marry a 55-year-old man in Wajir County.
What you need to know:
- Gaala Aden, 17, was murdered after rejecting child marriage; her case demands urgent justice.
- Cultural violence and neglect led to Gaala’s death, revealing deep failures in child protection systems.
Child marriages continue to be practised in different cultures, yet it is illegal. Some families face poverty-related challenges, prompting them to marry off their daughters.
Gaala Aden Abdi, 17, was supposed to be in school to make her future better but was killed in the holy month of Ramadhan. The girl was burnt and killed in Wajir. Her refugee background worsened her situation.
All individuals must know that girls are not commodities for trade-off. Gaala had a dream, rights, a future, a voice, but all this was shattered by insensitive men who ended her life because she couldn’t comply with their preferences.
Living with the man for about 27 days, she faced a lot of violence and was forced to submit to her 55-year-old ‘husband’ even after declining marriage. Her defiance was met with brute force. She was killed and her body set on fire.
The selfish nature of the political class is wanting, especially when their priorities are lost in the silence on what they were voted for. Justice should not be selective. MPs have been defending fellow leaders and should shout and demand justice for Gaala too. We should call out the ones experiencing “selective amnesia” and ignoring loss of innocent lives.
The role of the family in this story is annoying. When Gaala shared voice notes with her mother about the violence she was suffering, that should have been a wake-up call to get her out. She never acted. The mother, in particular, must be called out. It was wrong for her, for whatever reason, to marry off the girl. Further, child protection systems should be enhanced. This could have saved Gaala.
Read more: ‘Child’ and ‘marriage’ do not go together
This tragic and horrifying case demands immediate justice. It continues to be a reminder of the deep-rooted violence against girls and women. The impacts of culture and religion are evident in this case. We must follow up on the case to its completion. Out-of-court settlements must be stopped. The law supersedes religious or ethnic beliefs.
The police and cultural leaders need to be held to account, any signs of danger must always be reported and action taken. Let’s call out these injustices that different people in our communities continue to face, including sex workers abused or killed; the queer folks facing depression; the women we have lost to femicide; and the women we have lost to unsafe abortions.
These ill practices must be put to an end. From importing and propagating hate and violence against different people based on gender, religion, ethnicity, or economic and political class. Many Gaalas are still in our communities and are denied protection and education. We need concrete action, as well as strict and proper enforcement of laws.
Stand for the rights and dignity of girls and women, we must demand accountability and transparency. Justice must take shape and take action now! Gaala and other victims of child marriage deserve justice.
Youth activist for reproductive health; @alvinmwangi254.
