M'sian uproar over child brides

One - an 11-year-old wed to man, 41 - found in weak state far from home; other girl is 10

By Elizabeth Looi, Malaysia Correspondent
$this->handle_bbcode_img_match('http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20100314/ST_IMAGES_BRY5.jpg') Madam Siti Sarnan Mat Ali and Mr Hussin Mat Salleh showing a picture of their 11-year-old daughter, who was married to a leader of an Islamic group, on Thursday. -- PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN


KUALA LUMPUR - AN 11-YEAR-OLD girl, whose father married her off to a 41-year-old man, was found semi-conscious in a mosque on Saturday.
Local media reports identified the 'groom' as Mr Shamsuddin Che Derahman, said to be an elder of a Muslim group. He is also said to have taken four wives, one of whom he divorced recently.
Known also as Shamsuddin Ajaib or Shamsuddin Magic, he in turn had allowed his own daughter, only 10, to marry a friend identified as Mr Azhar.
The two cases have sparked outrage in Malaysia since they came to light.
Reports said Mr Shamsuddin had received the consent of Siti Nur Zubaidah Hussin's father in Kelantan to marry her and then disappeared with the young girl for 20 days.
Siti was found hundreds of kilometres away in a mosque in Kepong, about 20km from Kuala Lumpur, in a weak condition, police said.

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